Bruins blindsided by Iginla trade to Penguins
The Jarome Iginla trade to Pittsburgh dominated the hockey conversation Thursday.
When many people went to bed Wednesday night, it appeared Iginla was headed to Boston for a first-round pick and two prospects. But by morning he was a Penguin in a trade for a first-round pick and college prospects Kenneth Agostino and Ben Hanowski.
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli even felt the need to call a news conference Thursday to explain to Bruins fans what happened.
“We made a firm offer (for Iginla) two days ago and were told at noon yesterday that we had the player, that we’d won the Jarome Iginla sweepstakes, so to speak,” Chiarelli said. “We believed that we had a deal. We relied on the fact we had a deal.”
It wasn’t until 11:45 p.m. in Calgary that the Bruins heard back from Flames GM Jay Feaster saying that at the player’s choice they were taking the Pittsburgh offer.
Iginla apparently felt it was a better opportunity to win playing with Sidney Crosby, his old Olympic linemate with Team Canada.
“It’s the player’s choice and he opted to go to Pittsburgh, so we were out,” Chiarelli said. “It’s disappointing, but you just climb back on the horse and try to find some more players. There are always other players.”