The Boston Bruins Are Linked To Multiple Flames Players
In a recent report on The Athletic, Chris Johnston identifies Flames defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, along with center Elias Lindholm, as top three players on the trade market. Frank Seravalli on Daily Faceoff echoes a similar sentiment, ranking these players among his top four targets.
The rationale is quite straightforward. All three players are set to become unrestricted free agents after the current season, and given the Flames' subpar performance, sitting below .500 and outside the Western Conference playoff picture, extending their contracts seems unlikely based on recent reports. The Flames have already traded one pending free agent, Nikita Zadorov, to Vancouver.
During the summer, the Bruins were linked to Lindholm and Hanifin in trade rumors, primarily due to the perceived need for a center following Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci's retirements.
However, the current season paints a different picture. Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha have stepped up, each with 20 and 19 points through 24 games, indicating a solid top-six performance. Young talent like Matt Poitras, the unexpected fourth-line center, has also made an impact.
Lindholm, although a skilled two-way center, might not represent a significant upgrade over Zacha and Coyle at the moment, considering their impressive performances. Lindholm's 17 points in 24 games this season, trailing Coyle and Zacha, add to the debate about whether trading premium assets for him is justifiable.
The Bruins would also need to address cap space constraints, as all three Flames players have cap hits in the $4.5-5 million range. Clearing cap space would involve trading someone from the active roster.
Turning attention to Hanifin, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound first-pairing defenseman, the Bruins have a long-standing connection, dating back to the 2015 draft. The prospect of a defensive lineup featuring Hanifin, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Brandon Carlo is enticing.
However, acquiring Hanifin would likely demand a substantial trade package. The Flames might seek at least one top prospect or a first-round pick, putting players like Mason Lohrei, Boston's top defense prospect, in the spotlight. Balancing Lohrei's potential against Hanifin's current prowess poses a challenging decision for the Bruins.
While these discussions remain speculative, the possibility of the Flames making moves before the March 8 trade deadline prompts early exploration of potential scenarios.
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Bruins should try and acquire Hanifin and Lindholm? | ||
| Yes | 423 | 54 % |
| No | 182 | 23.2 % |
| It's going to cost a lot | 179 | 22.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
