from Joe Haggerty of CSNNE,

Rather than being daunted by the challenge of playing without Chara, Hamilton said it’s been “fun” in a way that makes you think he’s been pining for this chance.

“I think it’s been a lot of fun. I’m just playing more obviously, and being relied on more. I think it’s a fun challenge, and I’m just having fun with it,” said Hamilton. “I think it’s also been fun that we’re winning and playing better. So I’m not in as grumpy of a mood in the locker room. We still have to improve just to keep going this month.”

Put all of those things together, and one has to wonder if the cold-blooded (in a good way) B’s front office might start wondering what kind of value Chara would have in the trade market. The 6-foot-9 intimidator is still playing at an extraordinary high level and would make many bottom feeder NHL clubs an immediate playoff contender by his mere presence.

It would make a lot of other upcoming tough decisions (contracts for Hamilton, Carl Soderberg, Torey Krug, Reilly Smith etc.) much easier if they could move Chara’s near $7 million cap hit. It could also bring them the bona fide scoring right wing, a No. 3 defenseman or a raft of future assets that the team is currently searching for to complete a roster-in-flux since the beginning of the season.

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