Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli indicated that he has been active leading up to the 2012 NHL trade deadline on Feb. 27, despite having yet to swing a deal outside of re-signing defenseman Johnny Boychuk on Tuesday. The Bruins are currently playing without winger Nathan Horton, who has missed eight straight games with a concussion. Chiarelli said that although he expects Horton to return this year, the team could look to shore up his spot on the roster.
"I don't know. I expect him to be back," Chiarelli said. "He's progressing, and I would think he'd be back. In the back of my head it's that he may be something that we have to replace, but I would expect him to be back. But we look at players and say, 'Hey, maybe this player could add to our depth but maybe he'd have to play a certain spot too,' like Horton's spot."
Horton has 17 goals and 15 assists in 46 games played this season. His return to ice is hardly imminent, however. The Bruins could desperately us an offensive boost, having scored just five goals over their last six games--three of them shutouts.
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