The notion of the Boston Bruins and new GM Don Sweeney dealing budding young defensive star Dougie Hamilton seems pretty farfetched at first blush, but the rumors of a potential trade during or just prior to the 2015 NHL Draft on Friday night continue to persist.
"I'll tell you what, good sources told me last night keep a close eye on the Boston Bruins," TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger said, while appearing on Toronto's TSN 1050, via TodaysSlapShot.com. "Bruins manager Don Sweeney and J.P. Barry from CAA Sports have yet to find common ground on an extension for Dougie Hamilton.
"So the Bruins aren't going to hold on for long. They're not going to put themselves in a vulnerable spot, so some believe that you could see Boston flip Hamilton to Arizona for that No. 3 pick and maybe they draft Noah Hanifin, who is a local Boston boy. It would be a great story."
Hanifin, who played at nearby Boston College, is widely considered the third-best overall prospect in the draft and far and away the best defenseman. He's got ample size and plays with a significant amount of grit, meaning he'd likely fit perfectly in the mold of the Bruin Way - something Bruins president Cam Neely has indicated he'd like to see the team return to this offseason.
TSN's Bob McKenzie dubbed the 6-foot-3, 203-pound Hanifin an "effortless skater with excellent mobility and footwork," but intimated that he does not view him as an elite defenseman in the future because he lacks "offensive creativity."
Again though, that may not matter as much depending on how Boston uses him, assuming they were to actually pull the trigger on such a deal. Then again, with the way the league is trending, defenders who can push the pace and control the puck are integral to every team's success.
Most importantly for Bruins fans, it sure seems like Sweeney and Neely are determined to make significant changes to a once-strong roster that fell on hard times last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Rumors of a Milan Lucic trade continue to swirl - though it doesn't seem like that would constitute sticking with the Bruin Way - Carl Soderberg's rights were dealt to Colorado yesterday and now Hamilton, an offensive defenseman who is a bit on the smaller, faster side, could potentially be on the move.
It could all amount to nothing, but it certainly will make the draft later tonight interesting viewing.
