The Bruins need to land this star if he hits the free-agent market this summer.

Leading up to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, the Boston Bruins were among the many teams linked to Noah Hanifin before his move to the Vegas Golden Knights. This was unsurprising, as they have been connected to the Massachusetts native since his draft year. 

While missing out on Hanifin at the deadline stung, the possibility of landing during the offseason is still there. At the time of this writing, he has yet to sign an extension with Vegas. If this remains the case by the summer and he hits the free-agent market, Boston needs to go all-in to sign him.

The Bruins are entering the offseason with over $20 million of cap space and will be in a position to do some serious spending. The left side of their defense is one area they should upgrade, as Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort are both pending UFAs. 

If signed, Hanifin would provide a significant upgrade to the Bruins' top pairing. This is because he is not only dependable defensively but also chips in well offensively. Along with that, his steady all-around play would make an option for both Boston's power play and penalty kill. 

There's no question that Bruins GM Don Sweeney has been a fan of Hanifin's game for many years. If he tests the market, he and the Bruins will finally be in a perfect place to get him to Boston. We will need to see what happens on that front from here.