After two losses over the weekend, the Boston Bruins felt the urge to shake up their roster. Immediately following their third consecutive loss (a close 4-3 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night), the Bruins announced a trade with the Ottawa Senators for center Chris Kelly. The Bruins gave the Senators a 2011 second round draft pick in exchange.
Kelly had been a bright spot for the woeful Senators this season. The 30 year old Toronto native has played in 56 games this season, scoring 12 goals and 11 assists, good for fifth on the team. Kelly was having his best year career wise in shot percentage, with a .135, and is just 3 goals away from equaling his best years goal wise (he had a high of 15 in both 2006-07 and 2009-10.) Kelly has played in 462 games in his seven year career, netting 176 points.
NESN hockey reporter Naoko Funayama took to Twitter to point out that while Kelly's numbers don't seem outright impressive, he brings many intangibles to the Bruins:
"Kelly is 2-way center, lot of playoff exp, smart, can be wing, character person, well-known to Bs staff. Needed C for depth with Savard out."
With center Marc Savard shut down for the remainder of the season, Kelly gives the Bruins an experienced option at forward.
It has not been announced when Kelly will join the Bruins. On Thursday night, the Bruins take on the New York Islanders on Long Island, and on Friday, the Bruins will face the Senators, Kelly's now old team. The Bruins are expected to hold an official press conference announcing the move late Wednesday morning.