Bruins trade former Hart Trophy winner Hall to Blackhawks

The Boston Bruins have traded former Hart Trophy Award winner Taylor Hall to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hall along with the rights to pending unrestricted free agent forward Nick Foligno were sent to the Blackhawks on Monday in exchange for the rights to defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula, who are both pending restricted free agents.

It’s a move that gives the Blackhawks a top-line winger they would pair with Connor Bedard, the long-presumed No. 1 pick who the Blackhawks are expected to take Wednesday during the NHL Draft. Getting Foligno also gives the Blackhawks an opportunity to sign the veteran winger before free agency starts Saturday.

As for the Bruins, the decision to move on from Hall means they have now created some much-needed cap space. CapFriendly projected the Bruins entered Monday with less than $5 million in cap space while having eight pending UFAs and two pending RFAs. It’s a group that includes captain Patrice Bergeron, who said he was undecided on his future after the Bruins were eliminated in the first round by the Florida Panthers.

Clearing Hall’s contract while trading Foligno’s rights means the Bruins now have nearly $11 million in available cap space.

Although draft week has largely been centered around them officially drafting Bedard, the Blackhawks entered the week with $37.5 million in available cap space. Only the Anaheim Ducks have more available cap space.

Having that sort of flexibility allowed the Blackhawks to land Hall ahead of a tight window in which the draft and free agency are within days of each. Especially when the expectation is more teams are expected to pursue trades in lieu of what is considered to be a weaker free agent market compared to previous years.