Dougie Hamilton

Bruins trade away 'foundational' defenseman for draft picks

Published Jun. 26, 2015 4:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

Just days ago, new Bruins GM Don Sweeney called 22-year-old defenseman Dougie Hamilton a "foundational player." Sweeney might be right, but Hamilton will be building a foundation for a different team now.

The Bruins announced that they shipped the young defenseman to Calgary on Friday afternoon in exchange for three draft picks, including a first rounder (No. 15) and two second round picks (No. 45 and No. 52).

Sweeney told reporters during a press conference on Friday night that the team offered Hamilton a long-term deal, but Hamilton turned the Bruins down.

Hamilton was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, and his strong play over his first three seasons of professional hockey meant he would likely command a long-term contract with upwards of a $5 million annual cap hit. If the Bruins were unable to match other teams' offer sheets for Hamilton in July, Boston would have gotten compensatory draft picks in return depending on the value of Hamilton's contract.

The return from the trade left both the media and fans stumped.

"Don, you must sacrifice Dougie to the Flames" pic.twitter.com/8OhsodOlNO
— Jeff Israel (@jeffisrael25) June 26, 2015

Hamilton was selected by the Bruins with the ninth overall pick of the 2011 NHL Draft. This marks the second time in three years that Boston traded away a Top 10 draft pick, as the team traded Tyler Seguin (taken second overall) to the Dallas Stars on July 4, 2013. The Seguin trade is largely viewed as a mistake in Boston, as the return (Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser and Joe Morrow) all failed to become difference-makers for the Bruins.

Only time will tell if the Hamilton trade will be viewed the same way, but it is certainly a bold move by a new general manager.

(h/t Boston Bruins)

Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports