2010 NHL Draft: No regrets, just excitement from Chiarelli

As top defense prospects Brandon Gormley and Cam Fowler continued to slide down the draft board tonight at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, it looked like the Bruins might have reason to regret trading away the No. 15 pick earlier this week in the deal for Florida’s Nathan Horton.

Fowler went at No. 12 to Anaheim and Gormley was the next pick to Phoenix, so neither made it to 15. Had the Bruins still had that pick, they perhaps could’ve parlayed it to move up and grab one of the two blueliners who had been projected to go in the top five, or at least the top 10.

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, however, said he wasn’t tempted to move back into the top 15 by making a deal.

“It surprised me that they dropped a bit, but no. We have a cluster of players that still exist that are going to be there tomorrow,” said Chiarelli whose team holds two second-round picks, including No. 32.

Chiarelli accomplished the main goal he had on day one of the draft, as he selected center Tyler Seguin with the No. 2 overall pick. While Seguin figures to be a factor at training camp this fall, nothing will be handed to him.

“One, he has to make the team. I expect that he will make the team, but you never know,” said the GM. “He has to make the team. That’ll be a decision in the fall. But if you remember some of the fellas in the past, his body type, a guy like [Tampa Bay's Steven] Stamkos, it took him a while to get used to it. It took him a while to get his confidence and his strength.”

Chiarelli said that the only serious talks he had with Edmonton weren’t about the No. 1 pick but about how the Oilers could obtain No. 2. Chiarelli then characterized Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini’s offer as just “OK.”

The Bruins still have to see if they can get someone to take Tim Thomas’ $5 million cap hit off their hands and decide if they want to go to camp with three established NHL centers plus Seguin. There could also be other ways the Bruins could clear cap space or improve their roster. With free agency less than a week away, the second day of the draft might be the best time to get things done.

“I’ll anticipate there will be more talks tomorrow,” said Chiarelli. “It’s a little more relaxed and easier to discuss those types of moves.”