Kevin Weekes, NHL insider and ESPN analyst, was talking about a couple of Calgary Flames players on Wednesday’s News of the Weekes segment. Speaking about both Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm, Weekes linked the Boston Bruins to both players. If Boston could pull off a deal, it would have to be in a big shakeup move that drastically changes both rosters.
Subtly hinting at Hanifin possibly going to Boston by calling the blueliner a “Bostonian”, Weekes called him a “big defenseman” who had agreed in principal to a deal with the Calgary Flames but walked it back and said he needed some time to think about things and see where the team is going. A pending unrestricted free agent, Hanifin is drawing a lot of interest in the marketplace and he’s been heavily linked to Boston by other insiders.
Meanwhile, Lindholm is available says Weekes and he’s been linked to, and not limited to, primarily the Bruins. He said it is no secret in Bean Town, where the team lost Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Weekes said, “He would be a nice fit there, but cap considerations always a factor. Weekes wasn’t sure if Lindholm actually wanted to re-sign in Calgary or he wants to move along.
So What Would the Bruins and Flames Shakeup Be?
Acknowledging that Weekes didn’t actually say there was a trade in the works, it’s fair to assume he’s hinting Boston is kicking tires on both players. And, it makes a lot more sense to assume they’d like to get these players in for the Bruins’ current playoff run, rather than wait to try and sign both in the offseason.
Considering the cap considerations that Weekes mentioned, there’s really no way the Bruins can add one or both of these players without moving out salary. And, the players they would have to move need to be assets the Flames could see contributing. This is about the now and then later for the Flames.
Jake DeBrusk and Matthew Poitras immediately come to mind when envisioning forwards the Flames might like. However, DeBrusk is a pending UFA and there would either need to be a pre-trade conversation about an extension or the Flames might not want to take the risk of him darting in the summer. The Bruins would like to move Matt Grzelcyk in the deal if the Flames would take the defenseman. There would need to be picks involved as well.
Dealing for one of Hanifin or Lindholm will be tricky enough. Dealing for both would be next to impossible. We saw the Toronto Maple Leafs try with Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev and the numbers just didn’t work. Boston would have to put an enticing package together and figure out the salary, while getting Calgary to retain.
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