Bruins Add Another First Rounder, Miller for Lucic

The Boston Bruins remain busy on NHL draft day, as they have traded forward Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings for the 13th overall pick in tonight’s draft. Earlier today the Bruins traded defenseman Dougie Hamilton to the Calgary Flames for the 15th pick, and they already own the 14th overall pick.

There had been speculation all day, and for months, that Lucic would be on the move. There had even been talk he could be in package for the Arizona Coyotes’ third overall selection. There is a possibility the Bruins acquired all of these picks to aid them in a possible trade for that selection.

The Bruins also add goalie Martin Jones, who had been rumored to be on the trade block. Since losing Niklas Svedberg to the KHL, the Bruins needed a new backup. This means that recently signed Zane McIntyre will play in the AHL with the Providence Bruins.

The Bruins have blown up their roster in the past two days, shipping away Hamilton, Lucic, and Carl Soderberg to western conference teams. It remains to be seen if they use these picks to trade up in the draft.

The Bruins will also get defenseman prospect Colin Miller.

While the Bruins did need to dump cap space, they also lost their two best free agents today. What they do with their remaining space will depend on if they trade up in the draft, and if they did get the third overall pick, it seems likely they would take Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin.

According to HockeysFuture.com, Miller was the Kings fifth best prospect. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, going 151st overall to the Kings. Via Hockeys Future:

"Miller was drafted as a long-term project when the Kings selected him as a 19-year old in his second year of draft eligibility in 2012. The progress he has made since then is noteworthy. A bit undersized but with some elements of offense and pugnaciousness at the time, he spent an overage season in the OHL and has come into his own as a prospect in his second AHL season with the Manchester Monarchs. He has natural leadership ability and is among the team leaders in points and penalty minutes. Positionally, his defensive game is still erratic at times but his lapses have become less common and he is playing in more situations for the Monarchs."

All eyes are on the Bruins now as we head closer to the draft.