5 Massachusetts Natives Who Could Have Been Members of the Boston Bruins

By PowerPlayCJ

5 Massachusetts Natives Who Could Have Been Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins — Massachusetts is one of the hockey hotbeds in the United States having produced a plethora of NHL players, including several current stars. With the Boston Bruins lacking a homegrown star, here are five Bay State natives who could have been Bruins and helped their hometown team win games.

5. Brian Gibbons

Brian Gibbons

5. Brian Gibbons

Brian Gibbons — The tiny winger from Braintree went undrafted out of Boston College and found a niche in the NHL between Columbus and Pittsburgh. While he may not be the sexiest name on the list, there’s no doubt the former Thayer star would have looked good in black and gold had the Bruins signed him when he was on the market.

4. Jimmy Hayes

Florida Panthers

4. Jimmy Hayes

Florida Panthers — In 2008, the Bruins passed on the power winger from Neponset for Maxime Sauve who played a total of one game in the NHL. Imagining the former BC Eagle powering down the wing opposite Milan Lucic would surely give defensemen around the league fits. Jimmy isn’t the only member of his family who almost became a Bruin.

3. John Carlson

John Carlson

3. John Carlson

John Carlson — The Caps defenseman was raised in New Jersey but born in Natick, and he is one of the best American defensemen in the league. The Bruins passed on Carlson in the 2008 NHL Draft and missed a great chance to have a very good defenseman who was committed to UMass-Amherst before opting to play junior hockey for the London Knights.

2. Kevin Hayes

New York Rangers v Boston Bruins

2. Kevin Hayes

New York Rangers v Boston Bruins — Before inking a deal with the Rangers, the younger Hayes was pursued hotly by his hometown Bruins where he once starred at Boston College and before that at Nobles Prep School. With the great rookie year he’s turned in on Broadway, I’d love to see what he could have done in the black and gold.

1. Keith Yandle

Keith Yandle New York Rangers

1. Keith Yandle

Keith Yandle New York Rangers — Peter Chiarelli didn’t pull the trigger on a deal that would have brought the current Rangers defenseman to the Bruins a few weeks ago at the trade deadline. With the Bruins' power play lacking consistency, the Cushing Academy product would have helped out down the stretch and beyond.

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Boston Bruins

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