02:25 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 24, 2006

By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins' search for a new general manager hit a snag today.

Earlier this week, the club reportedly offered the position to Nashville Predators assistant GM Ray Shero. But, according to an industry source, negotiations have broken down because Shero, 43, is asking for too much money.

As a result, it now appears Ottawa Senators assistant GM Peter Chiarelli is once again the lead candidate. Chiarelli, 41, was said to have the edge late last week, but Bruins management began leaning toward Shero over the weekend.

Sources say the Bruins will likely send a second-round pick to the Senators as compensation for Chiarelli, who once captained the hockey team at Harvard.

There is recent precedent for such a swap. The Philadelphia Flyers received a second-round draft pick last month from the Los Angeles Kings after the Kings hired Flyers scout Dean Lombardi as general manager.

The Senators have organizational meetings set up for this weekend at Niagara Falls and it's likely Chiarelli will have already been named as the eighth GM in Bruins history before then.

``Ottawa does not want to lose him,'' said an industry source. ``He's a bright guy and it's going to be a big loss for that organization.''

Chiarelli knows the business sides very well -- as does Bruins interim GM Jeff Gorton -- and both Chiarelli and Gorton have wanted to be a general manager of an NHL club. Bruins executive vice president Charlie Jacobs has said Gorton, 37, will remain in the organization.

Gorton has been instrumental in drafting the club's young core of talent, including Patrice Bergeron and Hannu Toivonen, and was key in landing Brad Boyes in a trade with San Jose. Gorton also has a very deep knowledge for the business aspect of the game.

It's possible Shero wanted to bring in his own management team, but Jacobs has been a big backer for Gorton.

``He's done a great job,'' said Jacobs last week. ``I work with Jeff every day. He does a fabulous job.''

Chiarelli is ``more than qualified for the Bruins job,'' said the source. ``He will be a fabulous hire for Boston, but it will be a big loss for the Senators.''

Chiarelli has been touted as the next GM for the Senators once John Muckler retires, but it seems the young executive is heading to Boston.

If Chiarelli is in fact hired, it's a very good possibility coach Mike Sullivan could retain his job. Sullivan is under contract through next season, and Jacobs did say recently the coaching job would be the new GM's decision.

Chiarelli is said to be a student of the game and not the type of person who will all of a sudden make changes because he has the power to do so.

``I would be very shocked if he changes the coach,'' said the source. ``If he gets the job, he's going to study everyone in the organization before making any decision. [Sullivan] is a classy guy and a good hockey guy. Boston didn't have a very good team last season and he did more than what was expected. If given a good team, [Sullivan] will do a great job.''