Chris Nilan poses with Whitey Bulger and the Cup. (CBS Boston)
Chris Nilan poses with Whitey Bulger and the Cup. (CBS Boston)

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The trial of Whitey Bulger, alleged Boston gangster, bizarrely seems to find a way to keep coming back to hockey. This time it involves a small piece of hockey history.

Bulger is awaiting his verdict from a jury that has been deliberating for five days. As part of the jury deliberation, Bulger waived his right to allow the jury to decide whether he has to forfeit items seized from the Santa Monica, Calif., apartment in which he was hiding out.

Among the items Bulger will give up: $822,000 in cash, guns, knives and other personal possessions. However, Bulger will be allowed to keep one item that was among those seized -- a Stanley Cup ring -- as stated in court documents.

Bulger maintained that the ring was a gift from a third party. The ring itself is believed to have once belonged to former Montreal Canadiens enforcer Chris Nilan. The man known as "Knuckles" was part of Montreal's 1986 Stanley Cup squad and was married to the daughter of Bulger's then-girlfriend.

How Bulger acquired the ring is not known. The Boston Globe reports Nilan gave the ring to his own father and there's some speculation that it somehow made its way to Bulger. The Globe also reported Bulger paid for Nilan's wedding to his ex-girlfriend's daugher, Karen Stanley.

It was also revealed earlier in the trial that, while on the run from the FBI, Bulger managed to witness the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in Vancouver in 2011.

The 83-year-old has been charged in 32 counts of racketeering, which includes his alleged involvement in 19 murders among many other allegations.

UPDATE: Bulger was found guilty on 31 of 32 counts including racketeering and several murders Monday. 

UPDATE 2: Chris Nilan, who now works for TSN Radio in Montreal, asserted in a statement Tuesday that neither he nor anyone in his family ever gave Whitey Bulger his 1986 Stanley Cup ring to his knowledge. Via TSN, here is the statement in full:

Recent media reports have inaccurately asserted that James Bulger is in possession of a 1986 Stanley Cup ring given to him by me. Those reports have no basis in fact. James Bulger was never given a Stanley Cup ring by me at any time.

I won a Stanley Cup ring as a member of the 1985-86 Montreal Canadiens. I gave that ring to my father, Henry Nilan. I am currently in possession of that ring as it is being resized as a gift to my son, Christopher.

In 1988, Montreal Canadiens general manager Serge Savard heard that I had given my original ring to my Dad and Serge generously presented me with a second Stanley Cup ring which I wear to this day.

I commissioned a jeweller here in Montreal to make three women's Stanley Cup rings for my mother, my former wife and my late mother-in-law, Teresa Stanley. My former wife and my mother remain in possession of their rings. Mrs. Stanley wore her ring in her casket and before her burial, at Mrs. Stanley's prior request, that ring was given to my daughter.

At no time, to my knowledge, did I or any member of my family give James Bulger a Stanley Cup ring. I have no idea where any ring in Mr. Bulger's possession was made and I hope that this statement provides absolute clarification in this matter.

(h/t CBS Boston)