Chiarelli says he’s ‘standing pat’

WILMINGTON, Mass. — With Mark Stuart signed to a one-year deal, the Bruins now have just around $2 million left in cap space and still have restricted free agents Blake Wheeler, Adam McQuaid and Gregory Campbell to re-sign.

It would seem that a move might be imminent, but general manager Peter Chiarelli says that’s not the case.

“Right now, I’m going to be standing pat. That may change, but right now I’m standing pat,” he said in between sessions of the club’s development camp at Ristuccia Arena.

When asked about how he can get the players signed that he wants to sign and having space for a rookie or two that might make the club in camp, Chiarelli admitted that would force him to take some action.

“Well then I’ll have to make a move at some point,” he said.

By taking a one-year deal, Stuart did the organization a bit of a favor because of it’s tight cap situation. Chiarelli says he’s looking at it as more of something to build on.

“We gave him a little bit of a bump from his (qualifying offer) and I look at it as a bridge contract to something more. He’s UFA during the year and we may extend him during the year,” said the GM.