Potential Bruins target traded to Golden Knights (report)
Noah Hanifin won’t be joining the Bruins at this year’s trade deadline.
Boston is in need of defensive help, but Hanifin will join the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights after being traded by the Calgary Flames, according to multiple reports. Vegas defenseman Daniil Miromanov is reportedly part of the deal.
Hanifin is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and there are conflicting reports about whether the Golden Knights and the defenseman are working toward an extension.
The Knights, led by ex-Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, are fourth in the Pacific Division and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak.
Hanifin was arguably one of the best players available at the deadline. He was also linked to the Tampa Bay Lightning, which would have only spelled bad news for the Bruins if he ended up with a division rival.
But the blue-liner’s departure to Vegas still leaves the Bruins in need of a left-shot defenseman. Hampus Lindholm has been sidelined since last month due to an undisclosed injury. And even though he’s “getting close” to a return, he won’t fix all of the issues. Derek Forbort has struggled to find his game since returning from injury, and it’s noticeable on the penalty kill — which was one of his strengths.
The Bruins are also up against the cap with $57,500 in space, according to CapFriendly. They have assets, but it’s unclear if general manager Don Sweeney would want to part with any of them.
After going all in at last year’s deadline, it’s unclear what Sweeney has up his sleeve this time around. Other than defense, the Bruins could also benefit from adding a center.
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