An important trade was to be concluded between Kent Hughes and the GM of the Boston Bruins

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Jeff Drouin
March 23, 2022 (8:02 PM)

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It's been a week since Ben Chiarot was traded by the Habs to the Florida Panthers.

In return for the left-handed defenseman, Kent was able to get hold of prospect Ty Smilanic, a first round pick in 2022 as well as a fourth round pick in 2022. The former Canadiens' number 8 is expected to make his debut with his new team on Thursday night against his former team at the Bell Centre. It will also be Claude Giroux's debut with the Panthers.

But it was a close call for Chiarot to end up with the CH's big rivals, the Boston Bruins.

As reported by Marco Normandin, of Habsolumentfan.com, journalist Renaud Lavoie mentioned Tuesday, during his appearance on TVA Sports' JiC show, that a deal between the two teams would have aborted shortly before.

The Bruins, who were trying to obtain Chiarot's services, wanted to try to reach an agreement with him on the terms of a contract extension before paying the price to acquire him by way of a trade. The veteran defenseman reportedly refused to negotiate, as he instead wants to test his value on the unrestricted free agent market this summer.

The Boston Bruins had interest in Chiarot, but only on the condition that they would agree to a long-term deal with him. Ben Chiarot declined, wanting to wait until the summer before making a decision.

It is necessary to place oneself in the boots of the player. Chiarot has a young family, not everyone is willing to be traded and accept a contract the same day. When you're a family man, it's different." - Renaud Lavoie

In the end, it was defenseman Hampus Lindholm who ended up in Boston and curiously, the latter signed an eight-year contract extension with the Bruins.

It's unclear what the Bruins' offer to acquire Chiarot might have looked like, but you have to admit that his chances of winning the Stanley Cup are better with the Panthers. If he had agreed to a contract extension with Boston, he would probably be with them today.

To watch Renaud Lavoie's appearance on JiC, it's here.