Bruins' needs met by GM O'Connell

He has kept a low profile recently, preferring to fly under the radar screen as he's watched his team develop into a Stanley Cup contender. All is calm now as the Bruins finish the stretch run and gear up for the playoffs. But for a period of about four weeks beginning in early February, Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell had a cellphone affixed to his ear, playing let's make a deal.

The club's two needs were an offensive defenseman and a second-line center, and O'Connell landed them both on the same day -- March 3 -- although the acquisitions were announced a day apart. He traded defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, 2004 first- and second-round draft picks, and a 2006 second-round pick for defenseman Sergei Gonchar and center Michael Nylander.

Both newcomers have made significant contributions and figure prominently in the club's Cup aspirations.

Why the change in philosophy? Why were the Bruins, who traditionally stand pat around the trade deadline, so willing to bolster their lineup?

"This year was different," said O'Connell, seated at his FleetCenter desk yesterday afternoon. "There were two teams [the Rangers and Capitals] selling, with dominant players [on the block]. I don't know if we've had that in the past. Plus, the way our depth chart looks, we probably had more opportunity this year to do it. We've delved into it many, many times, but sometimes you don't have the assets they want or you don't want to give up what they're asking for."

The Bruins have made deals in the past, such as sending disgruntled defenseman Kyle McLaren and a 2004 fourth-round pick to San Jose for goalie Jeff Hackett and defenseman Jeff Jillson on Jan. 23, 2003. But none in recent memory has looked to be the difference between just getting to the playoffs and potentially winning it all.

O'Connell, who also made inquiries regarding Rangers blue liner Brian Leetch, who was traded to Toronto, said the key to the deal was two-fold -- letting the Capitals know they were real players in the Gonchar sweepstakes and telling Capitals GM George McPhee they wanted to make Nylander part of the swap.

"The thing that really got the deal done was that we recognized that Nylander was back playing [from a broken leg] and we knew what he could do," said O'Connell.

O'Connell said he never despaired that he wouldn't land both of them because of what they were offering.

"We made such a good offer off the bat," he said. "We started with a first, a second, and Morrisonn. That was to get in the game, and they knew we were serious. When I saw [Nylander had] played, I called George and he wasn't going to be in their plans because he's an unrestricted free agent. I wanted to get into it [before other teams did]."

So, the transaction was completed, but McPhee asked if the Bruins would sit on the Nylander news in order to spread out the announcements. O'Connell said he went along with it but was initially nervous, wanting an assurance that Nylander was, in fact, a Bruin.

"I said, `George, is this deal done?' " said O'Connell. "He said yes. I asked for his word that the deal was done."

O'Connell said he didn't have to sell the idea to owner Jeremy Jacobs. Earlier in the season, when Boston was struggling, Jacobs said he expected there to be changes and was kept abreast of the negotiations.

"They were very supportive," said O'Connell, referring to the Jacobs family. "They wanted to know where we stood and what the thinking was. Once you establish the parameters and establish what you think is fair, you go from there."

O'Connell believes this is the best club he's had in the four years as GM, and it's arguably the best in the 10 years he's been in upper management.

"Just [Andrew] Raycroft in goal makes us a much better team than we've ever had," he said. "We've had good teams here but we haven't had that. Two years ago, we finished first in the [Eastern Conference] and we had a good team, but [Byron Dafoe] is no Raycroft. We didn't get outplayed by Montreal. [Goaltending] was the biggest difference."

So, they've got top forwards, they've got netminding, they're strong defensively, but the last time the Bruins won a Cup was 1972 and the last time they went to the conference finals was 1992, so the question remains -- what's the least this team can accomplish and be considered successful? O'Connell paused several seconds.

"Playoffs are so difficult," he said. "As long as the team gives it its best shot and is committed to doing the same thing, there are no passengers, and we get outstanding goaltending and everyone plays hard, and you lose, well, you've got to live with it. That's happened. But I feel if we do all those things, and the little things [coach Mike Sullivan] talks about, they can go as far as they want to go. There's no reason to think they can't." . . .
Dan McGillis, Nick Boynton, and Marty Lapointe did not skate at yesterday's practice at the Ristuccia Center in Wilmington. Lapointe twisted his ankle in Tuesday's win over Ottawa and Boynton was dealing with a minor charley horse. "We thought it would be better if they took today off," said Sullivan. "But it's nothing that is going to keep them out of the lineup."