Bruins Recognize Dougie Hamilton Situation As NHL Free Agency Nears

Dougie Hamilton is the Boston Bruins’ most important free agent heading into the offseason.

The 22-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent after a very good season in which he starred on Boston’s top pairing alongside Zdeno Chara. Hamilton led all B’s defensemen in scoring, faced tough competition with difficult zone starts and controlled puck possession at a high level.

“Obviously I’m not going to comment on contract negotiations — you guys are doing a good enough job of filling in the color there — but from Dougie, growth … tremendous player,” Sweeney said during a pre-draft conference call Friday. “Had a real good year, a real breakout year offensively, and continues to round out his game both on and off the ice as a foundational-type player. So we’re excited to have Dougie as part of our group.”

If the Bruins don’t sign Hamilton by the time free agency begins July 1, he would be able to sign an offer sheet with another team. If that were to happen, the Bruins would have the right to match the offer sheet and keep Hamilton, or instead take draft pick compensation and lose the defenseman.

“Well, generally speaking, the possibility exists,” Sweeney said when asked about a potential offer sheet. “You have to be aware of it. Over time, there’s been certain players that bells and whistles go off, so you have to be, and we are, we understand it, and we’re moving forward with how we want to get this done. So it definitely exists, but they’re not taking that out of the CBA.”

The Bruins have other free agents to make decisions on, including UFA defensemen Matt Bartkowski and Adam McQuaid, but not having Hamilton signed at this stage isn’t preventing the Bruins from conducting other offseason business, according to Sweeney.

“We’re not in free agency period at this time, so I don’t think its holding things up at all,” Sweeney said. “I think it’s, as I said, I won’t comment on the actual negotiations side of it, but I don’t think its holding things up in any regard.”