Chiarelli considers bettering No. 25 pick

MONTREAL -- Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, maintaining that he still has his eye on a couple of players here in tomorrow night's NHL amateur draft, remains keen on moving up in the first-round draft order for a chance to land one of them.

''I've got three teams I'm talking with,'' said Chiarelli, taking a break from his team meetings just a few blocks up the street fom the Bell Center. ''These are three teams that are willing to move down.''

The Bruins currently hold the No. 25 in the draft. Chiarelli, while unwilling to specify what teams he talked to, said the proposed moves were in the range that could improve draft spot by upwards of 10 picks.

The clubs in that neighborhood, followed by their current draft position, include: Anaheim (15), Columbus (16), St. Louis (17), Montreal (18) and the Rangers (19). The Bruins often have talked trade with the Blues, and their biggest swap sent Brad Boyes to the St. Louis and Dennis Wideman to the Bruins. A lesser move had Hannu Toivonen going to St. Louis for the rights to Carl Soderberg.

No telling for certain what Chiarelli would have to yield to better his spot, but clubs across the board are looking for legit roster players, with lower salaries, who can fill roles and not bust their budgets. Two Bruins who fit that description are defenseman Aaron Ward (one year to go at $2.5 million) and winger Chuck Kobasew (two more years at a $2.33 milion cap hit).

Chiarelli would not be eager to part with either one, but a move would give him some needed cap relief, and the flip of first-round picks would incrase his chance of landing his teenager of choice.

When asked if he felt he might make a blockbuster deal here in the next day or two, Chiarelli said, ''I doubt it.''

With rumors swirling in recent weeks that Chiarelli might deal unsigned winger Phil Kessel, a restricted free agent, Chiarelli said recently that he had received a lot of calls from other GMs to inquire about virtually all of Boston's forwards. He said here today that the calls have not increased of late, despite the draft typically being a time when activity picks up around the league.

''I'd say it has been consistent, but not heightened,'' he said. ''I guess no one is looking to help me.''

BOUMEESTER ON BLOCK

Rumors are heating up here late this afternoon that the Panthers are about to deal the gotation rights to Jay Bouwmeester, their taltented defenseman who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. His landing spot? Right now it sounds like the Flyers are being the most aggressive and might be willing to send the Panthers a roster player--far exceeding earlier rumors that the Panthers might only get a third-round draft pick.

If not the Flyers, look for both the Kings and Canucks to make a push for the 25-year-old smooth-skating blueliner.

TIME TO ADD TO BOSTON'S BACKLINE?

Chiarelli maintains that a healthy Andrew Ference and Matt Hunwick will be enough to fill out the Boston backline. But it would not be surprising to see him try to find another second-pairing defenseman, someone capable of logging 18-21 minutes of ice time per night and contribute some offense.

A possibility would be Dennis Seidenberg, who appears to have priced himself out of a job with the Canes. He turns 28 years old next month and will become an unrestricted free agent July 1. His offensive game has never really blossomed in the NHL, in stops with Philly, Phoenix and Carolina, but at the right price, he could provide a reasonable upgrade for the Bruins.