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Tick. Tock.

Time is dwindling for Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien to decide the team's final roster before the season opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 3 at TD Garden.

Offensively, there are two wing positions open on the third line, along with another as the healthy scratch. Six of the seven players battling for those spots were in the lineup during Boston's 3-2 overtime preseason win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night at MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

While Bruins forward Loui Eriksson scored the game-winning goal, it was Ryan Spooner, Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser, Matt Lindblad, Jordan Caron and Nick Johnson who all received plenty of ice time in the team's second-to-last exhibition game. Carl Soderberg, the other competitor for a spot, will be in the lineup Friday.

Spooner was impressive again. He scored a goal and assisted on Eriksson's game-winning goal. Spooner also used his speed effectively, won battles and put the puck into open areas to allow his linemates to win the foot races. As well as he has performed during camp, the Bruins are loaded at the center position with David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Chris Kelly and Gregory Campbell as the men in the middle.

Julien recently said Spooner needs to focus on his game and make sure management has a tough decision when the final cut is made. He has done that, so it's going to be interesting to see how the Bruins handle that final decision on whether to keep Spooner in the mix or send him to Providence of the AHL.

On the defensive side, Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski -- the three defensemen fighting for two spots -- were all in the lineup.

Between the pipes, Niklas Svedberg played his first complete game of the preseason and played well. He's battling fellow goalie Chad Johnson for the backup role behind starter Tuukka Rask. Svedberg finished with 26 saves and made several quality stops.

Thursday's line combinations:

Forwards
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Loui Eriksson
Jordan Caron-Matt Lindblad-Reilly Smith
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Matt Fraser-Ryan Spooner-Nick Johnson

Defensemen
Kevan Miller-Torey Krug
Matt Bartkowski-Dougie Hamilton
Dennis Seidenberg-Adam McQuaid

Goaltender
Niklas Svedberg

DOING WHAT HE DOES: When Bruins forward Gregory Campbell was given clearance to return to game action, he said he would not hesitate to block shots. It's been a little more than three months since he suffered a broken right leg while blocking a shot in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. When he returned earlier in the preseason, Campbell admitted he's been thinking about that part of his game, but he wouldn't change his game. He proved that in the first period against the Jets when he slid and blocked a slap shot. Campbell was also reunited with his linemates Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille for the first time this preseason.

ICYMI: Former Bruins goalie Tim Thomas and the Florida Panthers agreed Thursday on a one-year deal worth a base salary of $2.5 million, which could increase if the 39-year-old reaches certain performance bonuses. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner and 2011 Stanley Cup champion last played on April 25, 2012, when the Bruins lost to the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The Bruins play at Florida on Oct. 17, before the Panthers visit Boston on Nov. 7.

UP NEXT: The Bruins will conclude their exhibition season when they face the Jets Friday night in Saskatoon. Tuukka Rask will start and is expected to play the entire game for Boston.

TEAM BUILDING: The Bruins will participate in their annual two-day, team-building activities on Monday and Tuesday in Vermont.

BOSTON -- The Bruins have three exhibition games remaining in the preseason, including tonight's home matchup against the Washington Capitals.

Bruins forward Loui Eriksson will have to wait until the season opener on Oct. 3 against Tampa Bay before he plays his first official game on his new home ice. He isn't scheduled to play tonight, and the next two games are away.

Eriksson has played in two preseason games already for Boston, but both have been on the road.

Since the start of training camp, Eriksson has been on the line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. So far, that line has worked well together, but fans will have a better understanding once the regular season begins.

“That’s when the fun starts,” Eriksson said. “It’s been nice so far, playing some games and getting a good feeling for it.”

Bergeron played in his first preseason game Saturday night in Detroit and helped the Bruins to a 2-0 win over the Red Wings. It was the first time in a game situation that Eriksson played with his linemates.

“I felt good,” Eriksson said Monday after practice. “Our line did some good things out there. We had a good forecheck and had some good chances, too. It’s nice to get some games in the preseason to get a good feeling.”

Even though Eriksson is a left-handed shot, he’s been playing the right side, which he said he’s comfortable with.

“It’s pretty easy to play with him. He’s such a smart player. We need to get some more games to see where we’re at and we felt good the last game against Detroit,” Eriksson said. “We have some things we need to build on; I felt good, though.

“You can see he’s a good leader for this organization and the team. He talks in the locker room and gives everybody a good feeling before the games. You definitely saw some good things from him in that game, too. It’ll be good when the season starts and have some real games with him, too.”

Eriksson is already focused on his first regular-season game with the Bruins.

“I’m really looking forward to that,” he said. “It’s been a long summer so I can’t wait until the season starts.”

* Hockey fans in Toronto witnessed an interesting preseason game between the Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres on Sunday at Air Canada Centre. A brawl broke out during the third period of Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Sabres when every player on the ice, including the goaltenders, dropped the gloves in an all-out melee. Julien said he did not watch the game but saw the highlights.

“It didn’t look good when you look at the highlights, but certainly creates a rivalry ... if there wasn’t enough of one already,” Julien said.

The Maple Leafs and Sabres play back-to-back nights on Nov. 15 and 16.

* The hybrid icing has been in effect this preseason and the NHLPA will vote prior to the regular season whether or not to incorporate the new rule for the 2013-2014 season. “I’m 100 percent with the safety of the game and I know that’s why they put that there,” Julien said. “I guess right now I’m just not convinced when you compare other injuries throughout the whole season and what’s going on that the icing is one of the biggest culprits of injuries. Yeah, you see maybe once or something that the guy happens to slip, loses an edge and crashes into the boards. But it’s a questionable thing and I’ll live with either or.”

BOSTON -- Bruins coach Claude Julien didn’t waste any time putting together his potential lineup for the upcoming 2013-14 season.

On the first day of on-ice sessions, newcomers Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson found themselves where everyone expected they would be. In the morning session, Eriksson was on the right wing with center Patrice Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand.

In the afternoon session, Iginla was on the top line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic.

After the morning session concluded, Bergeron and Marchand talked about the new dynamic of Boston’s second line.

“It felt pretty good,” Bergeron said. “You can tell, obviously, that Loui’s a great player and he’s got some great speed and some great skill. I’m very excited to have him with us. It’s only the first practice, so we’ve got some work to do on the chemistry, but still, I thought it was pretty good and it was fun to see those two guys on my side.”

In the previous few seasons, Bergeron and Marchand played with Tyler Seguin, who was traded this summer to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Eriksson. It may take a little time for the new trio to gain that chemistry, but Bergeron doesn’t think it will take too long.

“We’re all smart players and smart enough to realize where to be on the ice and read off each other,” he said. “It’ll take a little bit of time but not that much. Playing games will be the best indicator for where we stand and to help us work on that chemistry. So far it was pretty good.”

One of the differences is that Seguin was a right-handed shot and Eriksson is a left-handed shot, so Bergeron needs to get used to passing the puck to Eriksson’s backhand.

Marchand was pleased with the early progress alongside his new linemate.

"He’s a great player and he’s shown that in the past," said Marchand. "You can see that by just watching him on the ice. It’ll be a lot of fun playing with him.”

It’s no secret Marchand and Seguin were close teammates and that friendship extended off the ice, too. But it’s a business and Marchand realizes that.

“Definitely no disrespect to Seggs, he’s a phenomenal player and we clicked very well and had a couple of great years together, but Loui's a bit of a different player,” explained Marchand. “He’s a very good goal scorer, a very good playmaker and he plays hard in our end. I’m sure he’ll complement us very well and hopefully we can all play well together.”

BOSTON -- Bruins coach Claude Julien was pleased that all players passed their physicals, including forwards Patrice Bergeron and Gregory Campbell. Both suffered severe injuries during the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs and three months later, they’re prepared for training camp. Julien said both players are cleared for practice, but if games were to start Thursday, they wouldn’t be ready.

"When it comes time to play those exhibition games, it'll be a conversation again with our trainers in making sure if they're going to play that there's not a risk factor," Julien said. “Right now, I would tell you that they would not be cleared to play a game if we started today, but that might change in the upcoming days or in a week from now.”

Bergeron suffered torn rib cartilage, a broken rib on his left side, a separated right shoulder and a punctured lung that ended up collapsing and forced him to spend three days in the hospital after the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals last June.

Campbell broke his right fibula in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh when he blocked a slap shot by the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin.

The Bruins have their first of seven exhibition games Monday at Montreal against the Canadiens.

• When the Bruins hit the ice for their first official practice Thursday morning at TD Garden, Julien will get his first look at what could be the team’s lineup when the season begins on Oct. 3. The Bruins’ top line of center David Krejci and left winger Milan Lucic will welcome new linemate Jarome Iginla. Second-line center Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand will be working with new right wing Loui Eriksson.
  
  Julien admitted Wednesday he was pleased with the way forwards Daniel Paille and Chris Kelly meshed during the Stanley Cup finals, so it could be possible to see those two, along with a host of right-wing candidates, during training camp.
  
  “In the real perfect world, you’ve got your top two lines, and you’d like to see them score on a regular basis. Your third line should be able to give you some secondary scoring and then your third line should also be able to give you some secondary grit that the fourth line gives you,” Julien explained. “So they're kind of, to me, caught in the middle where they give you a little bit of both, and that is what we are looking for from that line. We need more than just two lines to score. We know our fourth line has given us that, but our third line needs to give us that as well, and, at the same time, defensively and on the gritty side of the game they got to be able to give us that, too.”
  
  That leaves the team’s energy line of Campbell and Shawn Thornton. If Paille makes the jump to the team’s third line, it will leave a spot open on the fourth line.
• Youth and depth will be a key factor for the Bruins during camp and into the season. GM Peter Chiarelli has made it known that in order for this team to win, it will need contributions from an influx of younger players. There are roster spots to be won on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice. Julien reiterated that point on Wednesday, and his advice to the prospects was simple.
  
  “Take advantage of it,” he told them. “We’ve been clear, and it hasn’t just come from me. Peter is the one who has kind of came out and said, 'Listen, we’re going to bring some youth into our lineup, so if some guys want a spot on this hockey club, here is a good opportunity to do that right now.' And it’s open. I think we’ve got some guys on [Boston's AHL development team] Providence last year that deserve that look. We’ve got some guys who we got in some trades that are going to certainly be battling for those spots as well.”
  
  Forwards Anthony Camara, Craig Cunningham, Jordan Caron, Matt Fraser and Reilly Smith are all in the mix.
• With a few tweaks to their roster, the Bruins and coach Julien will focus on the team’s systems play during training camp. Julien believes the team can be a little “tighter” in that area.
  
  “Those are things we’re going to be working on and making sure that’s at the top of our list,” Julien said. “I thought that was one of the things that we could do better, and when we did it well, it gave us success but we didn’t do it on a consistent basis, so that’s one of the things we’re going to be tweaking. It’s a bunch of little things. It’s minor maybe to you guys, but to me, it’ll make some big difference in games, some of the things that we’re going to be working on.”
  
  Julien likes consistency and chemistry, so if he likes what he sees early in camp, then expect to see those lines and special-team units remain the same.
• Earlier this week, Julien said he believed his team was ready to make amends for the way last season ended with a Game 6 loss to the Blackhawks. When asked how long it would take in order to get a feel for his team’s motivation, Julien said he already knows.
  
  “I feel it right now,” he said. “I think our group is in the right place. I like the feeling of our hockey cub right now. These tests today just kind of solidified what I thought. Guys are in great shape, and it would have been easier for guys after finishing so late to just kind of shut it down for the summer, but they’ve kept themselves in great shape and they look excited to get off to a new start here.”
• With the disappointing ending to the 2012-13 season in the books, Julien and his players are looking forward to a fresh start. There are some new faces in the mix, and with the Stanley Cup-winning core from 2011 intact, this should be another successful season in Boston.
  
  “I think it's important every once and a while to get some fresh faces in and continue to create that excitement of being competitive and wanting to win every year,” Julien said. “Things can get stale after a while. That's a known fact. And I think what we've done right now is kept our core together; we got some great leaders, a great core group of guys, and we've added some quality people in there, too. But also we've left room for some guys to come in and win themselves a spot.”
  
  Now, it’s ice time as the first practice will be held Thursday at the Garden.

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins have been a close group for the last few seasons, and it didn't take long for newcomers Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson to fit in.

The Bruins acquired Eriksson, along with prospects Matt Fraser, Reilly Smith and Joe Morrow, from the Dallas Stars in exchange for forwards Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley on July 4. The next day, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli signed Iginla as a free agent.

Now, two months later, both Eriksson and Iginla are ready to go in Boston as training camp officially began Wednesday morning with players’ physicals.

“I’m feeling good and ready to get going here,” Eriksson said.

After the trade, many Western Conference coaches described Eriksson as one of the most underrated players in the NHL, saying that he would fit perfectly into the Bruins’ style of play.

“That’s been going on for a couple of years, actually, with that underrated [classification],” Eriksson said. “I’m just glad to be here and I’m going to show them I’m a good player and it’s nice to come and play in this town. I’ve heard a lot of good things, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

With the team’s first on-ice session scheduled for Thursday, it appears he’ll be playing the right wing along with center Patrice Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand. Eriksson believes his style of play will compliment his new linemates.

“For sure that would help me a lot,” he said. “[Bergeron] is a good two-way player and he can make really good plays, too. It’ll be good to get going here and try to find some chemistry with everyone here and [Thursday’s] going to be a good skate.”

Iginla seemed comfortable in his new surroundings, too.

Both he and the organization have put aside last season’s trade deadline snafu when Iginla chose the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Bruins.

The future Hall of Famer will start camp playing on the team’s top line with center David Krejci and left winger Milan Lucic.

“I’m looking forward to it. They’ve been a great line and have great chemistry. I love that they play hard and compete hard and do a little bit of everything,” Iginla said. “Krejci’s a very smooth player and he just finds way to score or makes things happen. He’s a great passer and I like to shoot the puck, so you always love to play with a great passer. Looch is the best power forward in the game and as tough as they come, but also a smart player and creates a lot of room for his linemates, so I’m looking forward to that opportunity.”

Prior to his trade to the Penguins, Iginla spent his entire career with the Calgary Flames and was in his 10th season as captain. Coming to Boston, with a Bruins locker room filled with leaders, including captain Zdeno Chara, Bergeron, Chris Kelly and Shawn Thornton, Iginla only wants to fit in.

“I plan on just being myself,” he said. “I definitely don’t come in thinking that they need any leadership or help. They’re a very strong crew and have had a lot of success together and been together a long time and know each other well. I don’t want to be just a fly on the wall; I want to be part of it. The biggest thing is just play hard and compete and that’s what these guys do so well.”

Most of the focus on the Fourth of July trade of Tyler Seguin to Dallas has been on the 21-year-old forward and why the Bruins decided he could not reach his potential in Boston. But on Monday, the attention turned to the best player the Bruins got back in that deal, 27-year-old forward Loui Eriksson.

Eriksson had a conference call with the Boston media from his native Sweden on Monday and sounded excited to become part of the Bruins' revamped top-six forward group that will also include the newly signed Jarome Iginla.

"I'm really looking forward to playing in Boston," Eriksson said. "It's a really good team. You know, the last couple years they've been a really good team, so I'm real excited to go there and play. Everything happened really fast with the trade, but I'm really excited and I'm really looking forward to it. It will be awesome to come there and play. I'm going to try to play my best and try to help them win the Cup."

Eriksson hasn’t gotten the chance to play in the playoffs in his last five seasons with Dallas. While his last taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs was a memorable experience (helping the Stars advance to the 2008 Western Conference finals with four goals and eight points in 18 playoff games), Eriksson is ready to be playing deep into the playoffs on a regular basis and ready to do so in a hockey-crazed city like Boston.

"It's a good hockey town. I've heard good things about the whole city," Eriksson said. "I'll be ready to play there, and it will be awesome. It will definitely be different than in Dallas [as a hockey market]. That's for sure. The Bruins have been one of the best teams in the league for the last few years. I'm just looking forward to doing what I can to help them get into the playoffs, and try to win a Cup."

With the Bruins signing Iginla the day after they acquired Eriksson, it is not known whether Eriksson -- who is a three-time 20-goal scorer with a career-high 36 lamplighters in 2008-09 -- will play with David Krejci and Milan Lucic on the first line or Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand on the second line. But he has been told already he will be playing right wing.

"I've played both sides through my whole time played in Dallas,” he said. “And I know both sides. But I like to play on the right side and I know I've been talking to [general manager] Peter [Chiarelli] about it and he said he wants me to play on the right side. So I think that will be a good fit for me. I know they have real good players, especially Bergeron and they have Krejci as centermen, and they have a lot of good players to play with. So I don't think it will be any problem to play with those guys because they're going to make me better and I'm going to try to make them better, too. So it will be real nice to come and play with them."

Given the fact Krejci is used to having physical wingers like Lucic and the recently departed Nathan Horton on both sides and that Eriksson is known for his solid two-way game, there's a good chance he will be playing where Seguin improved his two-way game at times, alongside Bergeron and Marchand. If that's the case, Eriksson would be thrilled to ride shotgun next to a player he holds tremendous respect for in Bergeron.

“He’s a really good player in the league and he’s been really good for many years here,” Eriksson said of Bergeron. “I think it will be a good fit for me to play with him. I know he’s a smart player and he can play a really good defensive game, all style. He can also score goals and do a lot of things out there so I think that will be a really good fit for me. I’m just going to try to make him better, too, when I play with him.”

Regardless of whom he plays with, Eriksson is very confident he can fit in with the Bruins' system and their physical brand of hockey.

“It’s how I’ve been playing through my years in Dallas,” said Eriksson, who had 12 goals and 29 points last season. “I’m not trying to take penalties that much and I haven’t so I know the Bruins like to play physical and they play really good that way so I’m going to try to do that, too. I’m going to try and do everything I can to help the team. I've watched some games in the playoffs, and of course I watched many games when they played because I know they're a good team. So I know they play a tough sort of style and a good defensive style, so I think that will fit me real well. I like to play that way and I'm just happy to come to a team like Boston. I know it's a really good team to play on."

BOSTON -- Now that Tyler Seguin is no longer a member of the Boston Bruins, general manager Peter Chiarelli isn't about to call out the character of the 21-year-old forward just because he was traded to the Dallas Stars as the centerpiece of a seven-player deal on Independence Day.

Less than a week ago, Chiarelli told reporters after the NHL draft that Seguin needed to be a better pro. After the trade was complete, Chiarelli reiterated his comments but added nothing but praise for the former No. 2 overall pick in 2010.

"I think what's important to remember about Tyler is that he came here with much pomp and circumstance and he played very well for a young player," Chiarelli said. "This year wasn't his best year, but it was a trying year and a weird year to assess players. Tyler's a real good kid. I know I see the Twitter-verse, whatever it's called, and a lot of these reports about his extracurricular stuff, and I've made comments that due to his professionalism and acting more like a professional, but what has to be remembered in all this is that he's 21 years old. He's a good kid, and he's a terrific player. He's probably better suited for center. He was very good for us as a winger."

Chiarelli made it a point to say this trade had nothing to do with any off-ice issues the Bruins were concerned about, but he did seem to question Seguin's preparedness.

"I don't want to really play that up too much. He's a 21-year-old that played as an 18-year-old, and I think he was just a 21-year-old kid. He was maturing and growing up, and he liked to have fun like the rest of them. I don't really think it was such a big deal. But when I said earlier about focus, just about little things, about preparing to play, it was nothing about extracurricular activities."

Chiarelli was asked whether this was strictly an on-ice decision.

"There are no strict on-ice decisions on any decision you make with a hockey player. So no, it's not a strict on-ice decision," he said.

Asked whether the Bruins were fed up with Seguin's so-called off-ice issues, Chiarelli again downplayed it.

"I don't think so. I mean, we're talking about a good player. Our job -- my job as a manager, our coach's job, we have to get the best out of our players. ... No player is perfect, either as a player or an individual. His -- all his stuff mushrooms into a proliferation of items on social media and I get overwhelmed by the number of stuff that comes out. Maybe some of it is true, but I know not all of it is true.

"And this kid -- Tyler is a 21-year-old, he is a good kid, he's got a good heart and he is going to continue to grow up."

The Bruins had been shopping Seguin before the draft, so when the trade was announced Thursday afternoon, it did not come as a shock.

"I definitely heard the rumors," Seguin said during a conference call. "When the trade was announced, I don't know if I was surprised. As far as the professional comments, I talked with Peter about it right after the trade happened. I come to the rink every day and act professional and work my hardest. My first three years so far have been a big learning curve, and I look forward to getting better every day, and I'm more motivated coming to a great city like Dallas.

"I'm very excited. I'm looking forward to the opportunity. I'm definitely excited to get back into my natural position at center, and I'm looking forward to the experience."

Chiarelli was also asked whether the condition of Seguin's hip factored into why the Bruins wanted to trade him.

"No. That's really a condition that's troubling a lot of players. He's managed it, and the doctors talked. There's no issue," Chiarelli said.

After the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals, Seguin acknowledged that a physical ailment was bothering him during the playoffs and said he would have it checked out by medical staff. That ailment was believed to be his hip.

As far as what the Bruins are getting in return for Seguin and Rich Peverley, Chiarelli believes this deal works well for both teams. Dallas GM Jim Nill sees Seguin as a pure center and will use him as such with the Stars. Chiarelli believes Seguin could thrive in that role with the Stars.

"Tyler was quiet for most of the playoffs. He's a tremendous package of skill and speed, so yes it will go north," Chiarelli said. "His game is more conducive to that. The ice on both sides of them, when he's in the middle, he will have to play defensively there as he did here. Lindy [Ruff] likes to take care of his own end, so that won't change, as far as that responsibility. In fact it'll be more, as a center man you have more defensive responsibility down low. Jimmy likes Tyler. Loves Tyler as a player. He's followed him a long time being in Detroit when Tyler was in Plymouth, so it was a good fit for them."

Seguin's offensive production drastically declined during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He had only one goal in 22 games in the postseason. When asked how he felt about playing in Dallas and what he learned during his time in Boston, Seguin said: "It's a refreshing feeling I get to go and start from scratch with a new organization, a new home. Whether it's on or off the ice I definitely want to succeed in the expectations that are given towards me."

Joining Seguin in Dallas will be Peverley, who was also part of the deal.

"I think Tyler was under the microscope here in Boston and I've heard a lot of things in the past 24 hours about Tyler that I don't think is true and it's unfortunate that it's coming to people talking like that," Peverley said. "He works very hard. He's gotten a lot more mature in the years I've known him. He commits himself to the game and getting better. I don't see any reason why he can't continue to improve all the time. He works very hard and he's a committed individual and it's going to be no different going forward. For Boston to let him go at a young age, I'm sure he's going to be really motivated to do well. I'm excited for him because it's new start, a fresh start and I'm sure he's excited."

As far as what the Bruins received in return, Chiarelli likes the addition of winger Loui Eriksson and prospects Joe Morrow, Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser.

"Well, he's a good two-way player," Chiarelli said of Eriksson. "He knows where to find the spots to score. Has a good shot, good release from either side, can play on the PP. ... He can play the right side, and he has left-shot skill. He spreads out your power play. He's a fast and a good two-way player. There's a lot of his game that fits into how we play."

So, Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli wasn't just sending a message to Tyler Seguin after all.

Instead, he sent the 21-year-old forward packing and shipped him to the Dallas Stars, along with forward Rich Peverley and defenseman Ryan Button, in exchange for forward Loui Eriksson and prospects Joe Morrow, Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser.

The blockbuster deal ends Seguin's subpar three-year career in Boston. He never really lived up to expectations while in a Bruins sweater, and now, his $5.75 million cap hit per season is off the books.

Seguin, the No. 2 overall pick in 2010, struggled to produce offensively on a consistent basis. In 203 regular-season games for the Bruins, he scored 56 goals and added 65 assists for 121 points. In 42 playoff games, he had six goals and 12 assists for 18 points.

He helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011 with a big series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals. This spring, though, he struggled and had only one goal and seven assists in 22 games as the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the finals.

Seguin had a hard time using his speed to his advantage, and opponents controlled him by keeping him to the perimeter, which made his shot useless.

The Bruins are moving him while he's young and relatively healthy, and Chiarelli was able to get a good deal in return.

Chiarelli criticized Seguin last weekend at the NHL draft, saying the forward needed to become a better pro. Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron had his former linemate's back, but understood what the GM meant.

"I think Tyler's a young guy still and he's got a lot to learn," Bergeron said. "At the same time, he's improved a lot. At that stage, when you're learning like that, that's going to happen, you need to make sure you learn from it and find a way to get better. That's the main thing with him, it's about him finding ways to battle through it, find ways and build some character out of it. He's a terrific player, a terrific person, but sometimes you need to have some lows to get back up and feel better and play better.

"I thought he was really good the way he helped us. He found a way even though he wasn't scoring as much as he would like to. He was still battling hard and doing things, the little details that you don't always see on the score sheet, but it wasn't going unnoticed from us as players and teammates. He's a terrific young player, so he's going to learn."

As for the other players in the deal:

Eriksson, 27, is a solid left winger and posted 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 48 games for the Stars this season.

Smith, 22, can play either wing and posted three goals and six assists for nine points in 37 games.

Morrow, 20, is a solid, puck-moving defenseman and spent this past season at the AHL level.

Fraser, 20, is a left winger and spent the majority of the season in the AHL, but did play in 12 games for Dallas.

At the heart of Thursday’s blockbuster deal between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins is not just patience but the belief in the overarching power of time to transform potential into productivity.

At the end of the day, the Bruins did not believe enough that time was going to transform Tyler Seguin, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, into a core member of their team, so they sent the 21-year-old packing to Dallas along with Rich Peverley and prospect Ryan Button in exchange for the undervalued Loui Eriksson and prospects Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser and defenseman Joe Morrow, whom the Stars acquired from Pittsburgh in the Brenden Morrow deal at the trade deadline.

Seguin has showed flashes of the promise that saw him in a neck-and-neck race with Taylor Hall for the first overall selection in 2010. He helped the Bruins win a Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2011 and scored 29 goals in 2011-12 but did not fully become part of the Bruins community. Still a boy, he acted like it at times.

There were questions about his focus and commitment. This spring, Seguin scored only once in 22 postseason games as the Bruins were defeated by Chicago in six games in the Stanley Cup finals.

After failing to trade him before the end of the draft, GM Peter Chiarelli was blunt in saying Seguin needed to focus on being a pro.

Now Seguin will get to focus on that task in Dallas, where he will carry a $5.75 million cap hit through 2018-19. Clearly, new GM Jim Nill believes such a transformation can be accomplished. For a team that has missed the playoffs five straight years, Seguin represents an important piece of the foundation with the expectation he will contribute both immediately and down the road.

While Seguin was part of a deep, veteran group in Boston, he will face significant expectations in Dallas. It's hard to believe that Mark Recchi, who is an adviser for the Stars and has a long relationship with owner Tom Gaglardi, did not vouch for Seguin, with whom he played in Boston when the Bruins were Cup-bound in 2011.

Coach Lindy Ruff will likely return Seguin to his natural position at center, a position at which the Stars have been woefully thin, although it will take a certain leap of faith for Ruff to make such a move and will take some restoration of Seguin’s confidence to make it work to the Stars’ benefit.

Boston coach Claude Julien declined to make such a move during the playoffs when injuries necessitated a shuffling of the Bruins’ forward lines. Julien chose for the most part to leave Seguin as a third-line winger as opposed to giving him a shot as a second-line center.

The Stars also will get a useful, versatile player in Peverley, who saw his role change from the Bruins’ Cup-winning team in 2011 to this season, when he played mostly fourth-line minutes, although he did chip in on the Bruins’ second power-play unit.

If there is more risk financially and in terms of fit for the Stars, there is certainly more long-term upside with Seguin given his significant offensive skill set.

The Bruins were clearly OK with that kind of trade-off, and there could hardly be a more Bruins-friendly acquisition than Eriksson. The native of Goteborg, Sweden, and former Olympian doesn’t address the team’s gaping hole on the right side created by the departures of Nathan Horton and Jaromir Jagr to free agency, but Eriksson is all business and should be an instant favorite of Julien.

At 27, Eriksson is a solid two-way player who has a $4.25 million cap hit through 2015-16. He is a four-time 20-goal scorer who had 36 goals in 2008-09, and one wonders if he will make Bruins fans quickly forget Seguin. The question will be whether Stars fans will embrace the young center in a like fashion or end up lamenting Eriksson’s loss.