Not satisfied with one Stanley Cup, the Vegas Golden Knights are making a strong push to defend their title. On Wednesday, the Golden Knights landed Noah Hanifin in a trade with the Calgary Flames, the teams announced.
Hanifin has been on the trading block for most of the season, and the Golden Knights beat out several other suitors to win his services. In exchange for Hanifin, Vegas sent a first-round pick in 2025 or 2026, a conditional third-round pick, and defenseman Daniil Miromanov to Calgary. The first-round pick will be in 2025, unless the Golden Knights trade it this year, in which case it gets pushed to 2026.
Hanifin is in the final year of his contract, and the Flames retained 50% of his $4.95 million salary cap hit. The Philadelphia Flyers served as a third-party broker in the deal, retaining another 25% of Hanifin’s salary while receiving a 2024 fifth-round pick from the Golden Knights for their trouble.
Hanifin, 27, is in his ninth NHL season already and has become a rock solid puck-moving defenseman. His strong skating ability makes Hanifin an effective player in all three zones, and he has 35 points in 61 games this season, including a career-high 11 goals. In 625 career games, Hanifin has piled up 60 goals and 214 assists.
When it comes to his defensive performance at five-on-five, Hanifin hasn’t been quite as strong as in past seasons, but that could be a product of having a worse roster around him. That will not be a problem in Vegas, where the defensive group already consists of Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Alec Martinez and Brayden McNabb.
Between that group and the goaltending talents of Adin Hill, teams will have a hard time scoring on the Golden Knights in the playoffs.
This isn’t even the first move Vegas has made before the trade deadline. On Tuesday, the Golden Knights sent a pair of draft picks to the Washington Capitals in exchange for winger Anthony Mantha, who has 20 goals on the season.
Once players like Mark Stone and William Carrier get healthy enough to return to the lineup, the defending Cup champs will be as deep as they’ve ever been.
In a surprising move, the Calgary Flames have traded defenseman Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights in a significant trade deal that has sent shockwaves through the NHL. The trade, which also includes a draft pick and a prospect, is seen as a major shake-up for both teams and could have far-reaching implications for the upcoming season.
Hanifin, who was drafted fifth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015, has been a key player for the Flames since being acquired in a trade in 2018. Known for his strong defensive play and ability to move the puck up the ice, Hanifin has been a reliable presence on the blue line for Calgary. However, with the Flames looking to make changes to their roster after a disappointing season, Hanifin became expendable.
The Golden Knights, on the other hand, are looking to bolster their defense and see Hanifin as a valuable addition to their lineup. With his youth and skillset, Hanifin could provide a much-needed boost to Vegas’ blue line and help solidify their position as contenders in the Western Conference.
In exchange for Hanifin, the Flames will receive a draft pick and a prospect, both of whom have the potential to make an impact for Calgary in the future. While losing a player of Hanifin’s caliber is never easy, the Flames are hoping that this trade will help them address some of their needs and improve their chances of success in the upcoming season.
Overall, this trade is a significant one for both teams involved and could have a major impact on the NHL landscape. As fans eagerly await the start of the season, all eyes will be on Hanifin as he takes the ice with his new team and looks to make an immediate impact. Only time will tell if this trade will pay off for both the Flames and the Golden Knights, but one thing is for certain – it has certainly made waves in the hockey world.
