A Trade That Would've Changed The Bruins Franchise

One notable trade proposal came from the Boston Bruins, involving defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who had already showcased his skills during his three-year tenure with the Bruins, amassing over 70 points. Despite the opportunity, Maloney opted to keep the third overall pick and selected Dylan Strome. Strome had an impressive draft year in the OHL, leading the league in scoring with 129 points, including a six-point game in the regular season finale.

In hindsight, it seems understandable why the Coyotes chose to retain Strome, a promising star player, rather than trade for a towering defenseman like Hamilton. However, Strome's performance with the Coyotes fell short, playing just 48 games and recording 16 points. Meanwhile, the Bruins had the luxury of three consecutive first-round picks, a rarity, which the Coyotes could have utilized in trades. Instead, they passed on players like Mitch Marner and Timo Meier, selecting Strome.

Considering these choices, let's fast forward to the present and see where both players stand today:

Dylan Strome
Born: March 7, 1997
Birthplace: Mississauga, ON, CAN
Shoots: Left
Draft: 2015 ARI, 1st rd, 3rd pk (3rd overall)

After a challenging three seasons with the Coyotes, Dylan Strome was acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks on November 25, 2018, in a trade that saw the Coyotes giving up two players for his services. Despite being the third overall pick, this move seemed unconventional. In Chicago, Strome finally had an opportunity to showcase his abilities, achieving a career-high of 51 points in 58 games. Following a solid 4 1/2 years with the Blackhawks, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals on July 14, 2022. Currently, Strome is thriving with the Capitals, surpassing his previous career-high by recording 65 points in 81 games.

Dougie Hamilton
Born: June 17, 1993
Birthplace: Toronto, ON, CAN
Shoots: Right
Draft: 2011 BOS, 1st rd, 9th pk (9th overall)

Dougie Hamilton has enjoyed an impressive career despite playing for four different teams. In his current season with the New Jersey Devils, he equaled Barry Beck's single-season record (1977-78) for the most goals scored by a defenseman in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history, netting 22 goals. On July 28, 2021, Hamilton signed a seven-year, $63 million contract ($9 million average annual value) with the Devils, following three productive seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he finished fourth in the voting for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defenseman.

Hamilton, originally selected by the Boston Bruins with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, couldn't find his place with the Bruins but has excelled since then.