When Peter Chiarelli acquired Andrew Ference from Calgary in 2007, the general manager issued a challenge to his new defenseman.

Chiarelli always had admired Ference’s 2003-04 Calgary club. The gritty Flames lost to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final. Seven players off that roster have shuttled through Boston: Ference, Chuck Kobasew, Shean Donovan, Stephane Yelle, Chris Clark, Steve Montador, and Dany Sabourin.