Bruins tried to trade up and pick BC's Noah Hanifin

Share

UPDATE, 7:45 P.M.: So much for that. The Carolina Hurricanes chose Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin with the fifth overall pick. 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- One hopes the Bruins had a greater design in mind while stockpiling mid-first round picks in deals prior to tonight’s first round of the NHL Draft . . . and that appears to be the case.

A source told CSNNE.com that the Bruins are attempting to use two of those first-round picks -- which are the 13th, 14th and 15th choices -- along with other assets in order to move into the No. 3 spot and select Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin.

We wrote this morning about the Bruins looking to move up and land the 18-year-old Boston College standout in Hanifin, and it’s pretty clear that’s on Sweeney’s agenda with the draft set to start in less than two hours. The Norwood, Mass., native grew up a Bruins fan, and it would be a home run for the player and the organization if the B's can move up to get him.

Hanifin is a 6-foot-2, 201-pound left-handed defenseman considered the best blueliner in the draft, the kind of foundational player the Bruins will need on the blue line after dealing Dougie Hamilton.

One thing that makes the Bruins and the Coyotes a great match: Arizona needs to pick up $18 million in salary to get to the cap floor, and the Bruins have contracts like Loui Eriksson, Dennis Seidenberg and Chris Kelly that they could deal along with the contract rights to Marc Savard. The Coyotes could then use that $4 million to eat up some salary cap space on their books, just as Toronto last season took on the contract for Nathan Horton with little chance he’ll ever play again.

Contact Us