Bruins make harsh push to acquire coveted defenseman in sign-and-trade deal!

The Boston Bruins are expected to be busy in the coming week, especially if the report from Nick Kypreos hold some truth. In the Toronto Star, Kypreos claimed that the Bruibs are making a major push acquire Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin.

The insider strongly believes that Boston is aiming to pull off a sign-and-trade deal.

It was previously reported that Hanifin rejected a previous offer from the Flames worth $7.5 million annually. According to Kypreos, the Bruins could be able to bring home the Boston native and possibly sign him for a hometown discount in a new contract.

While this could be a perfect deal for the Bruins, they are likely to face a tough challenge to meet the Flames’ asking price in order to part with Hanifin. Boston does not hold any picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft to draw on for trade bait, and its prospect pool is somewhat limited.

Calgary has already traded Chris Tanev when the Flames moved him in a three-team deal that landed him with the Dallas Stars. Teams with more assets and cap space than the Bruins could come in and offer draft picks and prospects, therefore outbidding Boston for Hanifin’s services.

The Bruins are known to make a splash ahead of the deadline and with just one week to go, general manager Don Sweeney will have to decide if he puts up his best offer to the Flames and then to Hanifin himself to get him on board long term.
Hanifin is able to block a trade to eight teams via his limited ‘no-trade’ clause, but it is believed he would love to return to Boston. If the Flames find a suitor, but Hanifin’s representatives quietly let them know that the blue liner will not be willing to sign there long-term, it could effectively kill the trade.

In that sense, there is a feeling that the Bruins could have a significant advantage. If Kypreos is right and that Boston is working hard at making a deal happen for Hanifin, Sweeney needs to make the best offer he can to get the defenseman back home to wear the Bruins’ colours.

The clock is ticking.

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