Both Arizona and Edmonton felt they put better offers out there while the other half of the league didn't seem to know he was on the market. Embarrassing.
- tyanderson

I'm really curious to know if the Oil offered any other player(s) when they refused to include Nurse. It seems most likely that the Oil would have countered at least with Marincin, who was rumoured to be available & in fact went later for essentially a 4th round pick and a failed Tor prospect.
Seems Sweeney didn't even ask the Flames for a player while they asked the Oil for a top prospect and the Oil offered higher overall picks.

It's almost as if they sent him to Calgary to spite Chiarelli
- Tumbleweed

If that's the case, then that's a huge fail by Bruins management. You should be making moves to improve your team, not spite a fired GM.
What's truly baffling is that many GMs and about every "expert" covering the Draft had no idea Hamilton was even available. All we heard from the Bruins leading to the draft was in relation to offer sheets for Dougie & that the Bruins would match any offer that might come in.

It really doesn't make any sense. At first I was thinking holy poop they have 3 picks in the first half of the draft, there is going to be a mega trade. Then they went off the board with 2 of the 3 picks and (frank)ed themselves right in the pooper.
- Dangles13

I immediately thought they must be getting set to trade for the Az #3 so they could snag Hannifin. I actually felt that it would take 2 of the 3 consecutive picks to move up, plus maybe a prospect. The fact that Maloney said that his pick was in play is even more astounding that Boston didn't pursue the #3.

Dougie Hamilton, about to become a (cough) top 2 defenseman (cough) is going to flourish on Calgary and turn them into a threat in the West instantaneously. How does the ownership group support this? You want to win for gods sake! You won a cup and a presidents trophy not too long ago! How do you sell rebuilding when you have Bergeron, Krejci and Rask?!?!? I'm sorry for Bruins fans, you don't deserve this, but goes to show that being radical in firing Chiarelli shows why you are patient and stick with your core in the NHL. I guess when the Broons missed the playoffs, only one thought came to mind... Blow. It. Up.
- milly28diablo

I'm with those who think this whole thing doesn't make sense. Letting Dougie go for a fraction of what many other Teams would have offered? Then signing McQuaid for such a raise? If someone wrote this as fiction it would be dismissed outright as being too unreasonable to be believed even as a work of fiction.

Maybe the return for hamilton should have been better. But the return they did get is better than if they waited for an offer sheet. compensation would have been 1st 2nd and 3rd where they did get a 1st and 2 2nds from Calgary, and more importantly, they got them in this year's draft and not next years meaning the return is at least a full year ahead at actually helping the bruins.

If the other players on the bruins are livid about these moves, i don't see why... It is a cap system with only so much money to go around. The bruins have their share of superstars getting paid admittedly a fair salary. It's not like they're playing at a discount so that there is room to sign everyone else. And a team with so much talent should not have missed the playoffs last year... maybe some of the disgrace everyone wants to put on management should be put on the players that failed that management last year.
- peter2679

sorry, but other GMs and commentators were stunned that they let dougie go for so cheap. They could have gotten more before July 1st if they'd shopped him around is the almost unanimous consensus. The rationale is that, historically, you just don't trade away young top D before they've reached their prime. One comes available, the bids will come in fast & furious.

hamilton trade is mind boggling. especially when they then went off the board and picked a guy projected as a late 2nd rd pick....

the lucic deal was a bit odd as well, only because they ate so much salary. now they have 8.6 million for 8-9 guys.

I thought the bruins were gonna end up with barzal,connor, and konecny

this makes me really happy. $5 says edmonton wins another cup before the bruins do
- boltsfan48

Really would've helped if they took the Oiler's offer for Dougie.

It sounds like somebody has been taking advice from Shero and Rutherford! Glad to see the Pens aren't the only team making these ridiculous deals.

This may have been mentioned previously (haven't seen all the comments), but it may be a very weak attempt to give the coach little chance of success to move on from him? What are the odds of Julian being shown the door when the Bruins don't win?

I may just be too far left field but how can anyone explain what has occurred unless there are alternate motives in play?

Surely if the organisation threw a huge for sale sign on Dougie - there would have been offers starting at the 3rd pick from Arizona????

WOW. JR doesn't seem so bad now (don't mention Despres)!

The bruins totally lost their identity with these trades. Welcome to the lottery life boston. Good Luck!

Why don't you hire somebody with at least some GM skills as new GM? Trading Lucic was ok with all the cap issues, but why the hell would you trade 22-year-old up-and-coming star defenseman for mid round pick? And with mid round pick take a projected to be 2 rounder? And then re-sign injury prone veteran d-man to long term deal? Please Bruins just trade Rask and Bergeron, those 2 deserve better management for their efforts.

Why don't you hire somebody with at least some GM skills as new GM? Trading Lucic was ok with all the cap issues, but why the hell would you trade 22-year-old up-and-coming star defenseman for mid round pick? And with mid round pick take a projected to be 2 rounder? And then re-sign injury prone veteran d-man to long term deal? Please Bruins just trade Rask and Bergeron, those 2 deserve better management for their efforts.
- CanesFans94

Habs should offer DD for Bergeron
Sweeney would be all over that
Cap savings of almost 3.5

I remember when Bruin fans went crazy over the return they got on the trade from Thornton. Yet, that deal began the process that set them up to make other changes leading to the emergence of an elite team, conference finals and a Stanley Cup.

How could this weekend be the beginning of a positive rebuild? It does not seem like a strong start. If the Bruins struggle badly coming out of the gate do other top assets go on the market as the Bruins seek a lottery status? The whole thing just feels very strange.

Is it possible that Neely and Sweeney do not know what they are doing?

What a concise write up of a hard situation to swallow if your a bruins fan - great job Ty - what I have I to ask myself if I'm Bruins fan is - what other GM's would make or even consider making the Hamilton trade - if you can't answer that then Sweeney really tanked the franchise for no real reason - Cap or no - Seguin- Hamilton those are the guys you keep no matter what - average D men are getting 5.5 so what, that's the going rate - Is Hamilton worth 7 or more maybe, maybe not, but that is the current market and he is going to get it - Worse the return is just mind numbingly weak - it should have been at least in the Lucic area - player /prospect / pick - all high end - and another thing if Sweeney was set on trading him and let it be known the price would have skyrocketed - GM's would have been killing themselves to offer packages much better than what Cal offered to get him - Thank God I have Bob Murray who seems to never lose a deal - good luck Bruin fans -

Habs should offer DD for Bergeron
Sweeney would be all over that
Cap savings of almost 3.5
- MTL1

Crazy talk. If Boston ever decided to trade Bergeron, the return would be very substantial. It would take an elite prospect (like Jonathon Drouin) plus a 1st and a 2nd. Montreal does not have the prospect that would open discussions on a talent like Bergeron.

I have no idea where Sweeney/Neely are going with these moves. I think 15-16 is going to be a long season, and not in a good way, for the B's.

I would say that the Sabres are in a better position than the Bruins right now.
- tyanderson

Yeah, I'd agree with that.

Bruins made a mistake in firing Chiarelli. This blog makes some great points about it. Bruins may regret his firing/Sweeney's hiring for years...

http://youtu.be/gj3IgZbhxmE

It seems to me that the guy pulling the strings here is not the G.M for sure

Boston have traded out/ let walk, a lot of high end talent in the past few years.

I see them missing the playoffs again..

That game took a giant few steps back into the wrong direction!

I loved "Be a Pro" mode in the other NHL games and it is unplayably bad for 15!

- JIwasinskiJr

EASHL or nothing!! No Wifi? NO NHL15

I really don't think Hamilton is worth 7 million right now, maybe in 3 years, why not take a bridge deal? subban did and earned his mega deal. as for lucic, that guy slept most of the season for the past two years. when he played hard he was great, but he hardly ever did it. the fact they had to eat salary in order to get los angeles to take him says it all. if they didn't get rid of lucic and paid Hamilton 7 million, somebody else would have to go... rask? Bergeron? krecji? chara? there's only so many guys you can pay over 7 million, i'll take all 4 of those over lucic,. 3/4 over Hamilton.

The Bruins problems started in June 2010. Cam Neely was named president of the team and it's been downhill since then. They put him there cause he's a legend but they should have put a proven, talented administrator instead. Bruins pride and on ice heroics don't matter much when you have a business to run! Chara was the player that needed to leave! You would have gotten a better return than Hamilton and give him Chara's money!

Neely is running this team like he was still the captain! Cam was all about emotion and he's still the same way. You need a cooler head up there.

It seems to me that the guy pulling the strings here is not the G.M for sure
- Allforhim12

That seems likely

If I was a GM, I'd be seriously considering sending an offer sheel or 2 to Spooner/conolly/jones.

Seems like Sweeney and co. are ripe for the picking.

Crazy talk. If Boston ever decided to trade Bergeron, the return would be very substantial. It would take an elite prospect (like Jonathon Drouin) plus a 1st and a 2nd. Montreal does not have the prospect that would open discussions on a talent like Bergeron.
- spatso

I think you missed the joke.

In a nutshell, yes Bergeron should net a substantial return but Hamilton should have as well

He did not