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If you’re wondering what Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has been up in full buyer mode to with the NHL trade deadline three weeks away, he’s been looking at third-line centres.

He was spotted in Minnesota a few days ago when Tampa Bay was there.

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Chiarelli was looking at Lightning unrestricted free-agent Brian Boyle, who’s averaging almost 14 minutes a game, is winning more than 50 per cent of his draws and has 12 goals.

He’ll also have a close-up look at Arizona UFA Martin Hanzal here on Tuesday.

The six-foot-six Hanzal would cost more in a trade because he’s got more offence to his game (twice more than 40 points in a season), but the six-foot-seven Boyle might be a harder-to-play-against playoff centre judging by his 100 post-season games (42 over the last two years with the Lightning).

Chiarelli and Tampa GM Steve Yzerman have worked together on Canada’s Olympic management team and have a history, but the Chicago Blackhawks are sniffing around Boyle too. So is Columbus. Arizona rookie GM John Chayka is trying to leverage lots for Hanzal, knowing Montreal and several other contenders are circling.