On the Boston Bruins …
Matt Kalman: Cam Neely said that the Bruins didn’t get offered a first round pick or two second round picks for Loui Eriksson.
Matt Kalman: Neely added that they would have traded Eriksson if they got an offer they liked.
Jimmy Murphy: Three team executives said that the Bruins were asking a top-six forward or top-four defenseman that has term left, a first or second round pick and a prospect for Loui Eriksson.
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: GM Don Sweeney is still trying to find the young, top-four defenseman after he traded Dougie Hamilton to the Flames at last year’s draft.
The Bruins didn’t know who unhappy Hamilton was. Peter Chiarelli had taken the Oilers GM position, and he might have signed Hamilton to an offer sheet as they were also looking for a top defenseman. The Bruins could have taken the compensatory picks, or match the offer sheet and have their cap structure upside-down because of the high salary.
There is hope the some of their prospects are able to fill the responsibilities left by Hamilton. The Bruins could also look to package one or some of their prospects with one of their two first round picks or with their second round pick for a Hamilton replacement.
“I think we will be in a position if that’s what we hope to do,” Sweeney said of trading for a young defenseman. “I still think we can certainly supplement our team in that regard. It’s an area we’re going to try to address.
“I think we have a lot of players in our current system that will continue to challenge in that same vein. I really do. I believe the guys we have on the horizon, a couple guys coming out of college, I think guys are going to be able to step in and play.”