BOSTON - As general manager of the Boston Bruins and assistant general manager of the Ottawa Senators, Peter Chiarelli is serving opposing clubs at the same time. So what happens if both teams want the same free agent?
That could happen before Chiarelli's commitment to the Senators ends July 15 at the earliest.
"As a lawyer, you're trained to deal with conflicts, to recognize them and to work around them as long as they're disclosed," he said Wednesday. "It's going to be difficult, but it'll work out. Again, I look forward to July 15."
Chiarelli, 41, was given a four-year contract last Friday to succeed Mike O'Connell, fired March 25 with the Bruins on their way to their third non-playoff season in the last six. A day before his hiring, though, a long meeting among Bruins and Senators officials with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was held in New York to sort out the terms of Chiarelli's move.
The Senators said that during a conversation they gave the Bruins permission to talk to Chiarelli, and Boston agreed to provide compensation. But none of that was in writing as required by NHL bylaws, Bruins president Harry Sinden said, although that often wasn't followed in other deals.
The Bruins expected to give up a draft pick and be restricted from working with Chiarelli until the NHL draft on June 24. They were surprised at other limitations and the fact Chiarelli wouldn't be free for at least six weeks.
"The league was over the barrel because we didn't follow the bylaw, (but) Ottawa is part of the problem because they're supposed to put it in writing as well," Sinden said.
Under the agreement, Chiarelli must first contact the NHL if he wants to give the Bruins a list of players to pursue in free agency that is expected to start July 1. If it begins later, Chiarelli wouldn't be free of the Senators until 15 days after that date, Sinden said.
That list cannot include any free agents from the Senators.
The Bruins can pursue Ottawa's free agents as long as Chiarelli is not involved. After extensive interviews with Chiarelli, Boston officials have a pretty good idea of his view of current Bruins players and other teams' free agents.
"I conveyed a strong enough message and vision that this thing is going to carry through and bridge the gap and we'll be up and running very shortly," Chiarelli said Wednesday at his introductory news conference.
Ray Shero, the assistant GM of Nashville who was pursued by the Bruins, would have come without restrictions, but he took Pittsburgh's offer to become the Penguins' general manager. Sinden said Chiarelli wasn't Boston's second choice.
Chiarelli, a former Harvard hockey captain, is free to determine the fate of the coaching staff headed by Mike Sullivan. He planned to speak with Sullivan before returning to Ottawa on Thursday.
"I don't know Mike. I heard a lot of good things about him," Chiarelli said.
In Sullivan's two seasons as coach, the Bruins lost in the first round of the playoffs then finished last in the Northeast Division this season. Ottawa led the Eastern Conference with 113 points.
Awaiting his fate is an "awkward" situation, Sullivan said. "I'm anxious to have that conversation with Peter. ... I also understand that it's a necessary part of the business, and the reality is when you don't have success change is inevitable."
But he said he thought he and Chiarelli "share similar philosophies" as far as having speedy skaters and four solid lines.
"I want to introduce a new fresh culture to this organization. I want players to want to play here," said Chiarelli, who is expected to keep interim general manager Jeff Gorton. "I want players that can skate. I want players with energy. I want players that can close gaps, win pucks. I want a real true combination of speed and character."
The trades of forwards Joe Thornton and Sergei Samsonov this season left the Bruins with a young team without marquee players. But team owner Jeremy Jacobs noted that Buffalo, without high-priced free agents, is a win away from reaching the Stanley Cup finals.
"I have to take and I do take responsibility for the performance," Jacobs said, "but the ending of last season has actually proven to be a new beginning. (Chiarelli has) a solid reputation as one of hockey's top emerging leaders."
He was desirable enough for the Bruins to give up a conditional draft choice and wait.
"Will this continue to be a process in the league?" Jacobs said. "It's up to the commissioner what he wants to do, but it probably shouldn't be. I think it's wrong."