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Bruins GM Chiarelli sticks to his guns over Jagr-Iginla debate

Peter Chiarelli

Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli responds to a question from a reporter during a news conference at the TD Garden before a scheduled NHL team hockey practice in Boston, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

AP

Now that the Bruins and Penguins are set to meet in the Eastern Conference finals, we can get down to the serious business of finding fun storylines to follow. One of the bigger ones? How the Bruins deal with facing the guy they nearly acquired in Jarome Iginla.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli spoke with reporters today about whether it’ll be awkward facing Iginla even in spite of acquiring Jaromir Jagr after missing out on the former Flames star. Matt Kalman of NHL.com has the story.

“It’s been well-chronicled, the Iginla stuff and the Jagr stuff, so we’re happy with who we got. I know he’s been snake-bitten a little bit, but he’s had a lot of chances; he’s created a lot of chances,” Chiarelli said. “But more importantly, in addition to the looks he gives the PP, he wears down the D, and there’s always two guys on him. I think we would’ve been fine with either, but we’re very happy with [Jagr].”

Jagr has yet to score a goal in the playoffs and has just four assists through 12 postseason games. If he’s snake-bitten, the venom is long-lasting as he hasn’t scored since April 21 against Florida. Meanwhile, Iginla has four goals and eight assists in the playoffs for the Penguins.

Then again, Iginla wasn’t facing Henrik Lundqvist and James Reimer either. Tuukka Rask and the Bruins defense should provide the Penguins with their biggest challenge yet in the postseason.