Bruins acquire Bourque for Hamill

The Washington Capitals, parent club of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, have acquired center Zach Hamill from the Boston Bruins, parent club of the AHL’s Providence Bruins, in exchange for left wing Chris Bourque.

Hamill, 23, recorded 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 41 games in 2011-12 with Providence. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound center also tallied two assists in 16 games with Boston.

In 20 career NHL games, Hamill has collected four assists, and has totaled 139 points (44 goals, 95 assists) in 256 career AHL games.

The Vancouver, B.C., native was originally drafted by Boston in the first round (eighth overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Bourque, 26, registered 93 points (27 goals, 66 assists) in 73 games with the Hershey Bears in 2011-12, earning the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL’s leading scorer.

In 398 career AHL games, Bourque has recorded 132 goals and 263 assists for 395 points. A three-time Calder Cup champion with Hershey, Bourque won the Jack Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs. He has also notched one goal and three assists for four points in 33 NHL games with Washington and Pittsburgh.

Bourque is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.