By the way, I think I mentioned a while back that I spoke to doug wilson at a season ticket holders meeting over the summer. i asked him point blank about the hamilton trade and the eventual seemingly low return that Boston got, and he sort of shook his head and say something like "We had conversation and I was pretty surprised at the eventual deal... he is a new GM in boston, so you never know."
basically, it was clear to me that dougie took a stab at landing hamilton at the draft and made a solid offer that was turned down. he obviously was in lots of contact with Sweeney because he eventually got Jones, but I think plan 1A was hamilton and plan B was martin.
Dougie obviously made improving the D and goaltending his #1 offseason priority, landing Jones before july 1 and martin on the first day. Ward came a little last after the D and G were set. He knew the D was a big problem last year and with the martin injury early, I gotta figure dougie knows that D is still a big problem, one injury from blowing up the season. I cant imagine dougie is satisfied with the current D corps, so I gotta figure that if one of the top young dmen in the league like hamilton, vatanen, lindholm, Murray in CLB, or the like became available, then dougie would come calling. I should mention as well that mueller would also clearly be on the table, and dougie has never blinked in making the big move and trading lots of top prospects for who sees as the right guy.
basically, it was clear to me that dougie took a stab at landing hamilton at the draft and made a solid offer that was turned down. he obviously was in lots of contact with Sweeney because he eventually got Jones, but I think plan 1A was hamilton and plan B was martin.
Dougie obviously made improving the D and goaltending his #1 offseason priority, landing Jones before july 1 and martin on the first day. Ward came a little last after the D and G were set. He knew the D was a big problem last year and with the martin injury early, I gotta figure dougie knows that D is still a big problem, one injury from blowing up the season. I cant imagine dougie is satisfied with the current D corps, so I gotta figure that if one of the top young dmen in the league like hamilton, vatanen, lindholm, Murray in CLB, or the like became available, then dougie would come calling. I should mention as well that mueller would also clearly be on the table, and dougie has never blinked in making the big move and trading lots of top prospects for who sees as the right guy.
