I fall into the camp of giving new Bruins GM Don Sweeney the benefit of the doubt. He's a Harvard educated guy who knows what it takes to make it in the NHL both from a skill point of view (over 1100 NHL games) and from a heart point of view (nobody played with more heart than Sweeney).
I was surprised as anyone by the trade that send Dougie Hamilton to Calgary for a 1st and two 2nd round picks. I didn't think that was enough and when I heard what he signed for - I wondered how come Boston didn't just offer similar money? Well it turns out the Bruins did make three offers of similar money and were rebuffed. And it is now clear that Hamilton didn't want to be here. Well in that case good riddance!
If the choices were waiting for a team to offer Hamilton an offer sheet and then matching it for a player who doesn't want to be here or not matching and instead maybe getting a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick next year in compensation and then being pilloried by the local media for being cheap - the third option of trading Hamilton as far away as possible makes perfect sense. Could be a case of addition by subtraction.
The Milan Lucic trade has been almost universally praised (Bill Burr being the exception it seems). The trade for Zac Rinaldo has been met with almost universal derision (although I haven't heard anyone who's played against Rinaldo chime in against the trade). Signing Adam McQuaid to his 4-year extension has been viewed as an over-pay but it gives the Bruins 5 out of their top 6 defensemen back for next season.
Boston still needs another defenseman, another forward and a back-up goalie. I trust Don Sweeney to put together the best possible roster with the restrictions he's inherited. This year's Bruins didn't make the playoff with Hamilton and Lucic. Let's see how next year's team does.
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