The Boston Bruins are making their calls trying to lock up Dougie Hamilton. The 22-year old blueliner is in line for a sizable raise after last season. While he still has room to improve, he led the Bruins defensemen with forty-two points last year.
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Hopefully, the Bruins can come to some sort of short-term arrangement until the B’s can get out of cap hell. If the Bruins and Hamilton can’t come to an understanding by July 1, Hamilton will be able to seek offer sheets from other teams. (All eyes are now on Edmonton for this.) If Hamilton accepts the offer sheet, the Bruins would have seven days to either match the offer or take draft pick compensation instead.
Still no word on how the Bruins will squeeze in Ryan Spooner of Brett Connolly to the roster this year. The organization will need Spooner as their third line center since they have no money to sign Carl Soderberg. With all the young talent being signed to two-way contracts, the Bruins just might let Connolly go to free agency. (If that’s the case, then it was a total waste of a second round draft pick.)
While there is still plenty of talk about moving Milan Lucic, there are no signs that the B’s organization has made plans to move the power forward. If Lucic is still a Bruin by the end of the Draft, then there will be no surprises for the winger or the fans come September.
Puck Prose
The Boston Bruins haven’t made any moves up the draft ladder for the Entry Draft on Friday. The Bruins could get together with old GM Peter Chiarelli to hash out a trade (as long as he hasn’t blindsided us over Dougie Hamilton).
If the Bruins are looking for a defenseman, I hope they grab Jeremy Roy. If the go for a forward, I’d like to see Travis Konecny.
Today, the league’s general managers will find out the salary cap for next season. (The projections have it landing somewhere between $70 to $71.5 million dollars.) “Everybody’s sort of trying to get a real good solid view of the landscape ahead of each and every one of us heading into the draft,” said Don Sweeney last week. “I think everybody is sort of in the same boat and taking inventory.”
At this point, the extra million to million and a half could be used to sign one player, and pad another player’s contract.
Puck Prose
The GMs will be discussing changes to the overtime format on Wednesday. The NHLPA is pushing hard for a 3 on 3 OT, and the league is looking for a hybrid 4 on 4, then 3 on 3 OT plan. While I personally like the league’s plan better, going directly to 3 on 3 would certainly open up the ice and allow for a few more spectacular goals.
There will also be the final approval of the ‘coaches challenge’ rule talked about at the last meeting.
The NHL Awards will be tomorrow night, and all Bruins fans hope that Patrice Bergeron is rewarded with another Selke for his efforts to save the Black and Gold’s season.
The Board of Governors could allow Las Vegas to move forward with their plans to have the next NHL franchise. Because hockey in the desert has worked so well with the league in the past.