After weeks of searching Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli finally find a defenseman in the trade market.

Chiarelli shipped struggling winger Brandon Bochenski to the Anaheim Ducks in return for veteran blueliner Shane Hnidy and a sixth round pick in the 2008 entry draft.

The oft-traveled Hnidy (the Bruins are now his fifth NHL team since 2004) is a physical veteran blueliner who’s also a career “plus” player and can be relied upon to be a steady if unspectacular depth defenseman.

Chiarelli had stated earlier this week that he wasn’t seeking a “quick-fix” blueliner but someone who could help his team beyond this season. Hnidy, who has another year remaining on his current contract at a very affordable $760K, which makes him an easy fit on the Bruins payroll as well as on their blueline.

Bochenski is no less traveled than Hnidy, now heading to his fourth NHL team since 2005-06. He showed promise early in his rookie season with the Ottawa Senators but quickly struggled to adjust to the NHL game which resulted in his bounced from Ottawa to Chicago to Boston and now Anaheim.

It remains to be seen if Bochenski will discover his offensive game with the Ducks, but it could be his last chance to make an impression. He’ll be a restricted free agent in July and could go unsigned if he fails to show improvement in the second half of this season, be it with the Ducks or their minor league affiliate.

Some observers might see this move as Anaheim GM Brian Burke dumping salary to make room for a possible return of veteran winger Teemu Selanne, but that seems unlikely. If anything it might be making some cap space for next season to squeeze a new contract in for RFA forward Corey Perry.