Noah Hanifin isn’t expected to sign in Calgary and will more than likely be moved. The assumption is that if nothing is done by the trade deadline, there will be many suitors. But two seems to be the front-runners to bring him in at this time. Logically, we have to look at teams in contention for the Stanley Cup. Ideally, a sign-and-trade would garner more in return to the Flames though, but that isn’t always easy to pull off, especially mid-season.
Hanifin told Sportsnet that “it’s still quiet on the contract front.” He and the Flames were close on a long-term deal a while ago, but then everything was shut down contract-wise with the Flames. This led everyone to believe that the Flames were bound to sell and move on from these players. Nikita Zadorov was the first to go.
The 27-year-old is very experienced already and is a strong player at both ends of the ice. In terms of which two teams are reportedly out in front, that would be the Dallas Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs, although nothing is imminent.
Dallas Stars
The one hole anyone could come up with for the Stars is the back-end. It doesn’t necessarily matter which side of the ice, only that their top concern should be just adding another solid player. This doesn’t have to be someone with term and they will show interest in Hanifin. Miro Heiskanen, a lefty already playing on the right side, is currently on the IR and considered week-to-week.
Even when he returns, there are a couple of young defenders in the lineup and Ryan Suter is also slowing down. Hanifin would fit in nicely on a team like that, even if just for a playoff run. The Stars are real contenders and should be making a big move at the deadline. They will have to manage the salary cap somehow, but will get it done if they really desire it.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs might not seem in the place to add this season with all of the losing, but they still have the players that can really change the outcome of games. That being said, they do have money and can bring someone in. If management doesn’t feel like the team can win this season, it may still be a great move to bring a player in, specifically a defenceman, that is under contract past this season.
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This would involve a sign-and-trade mid-season, something I said would be tough to pull off, but not impossible. Brad Treliving, the general manager of the Maple Leafs, has ties to the Flames and Hanifin. He liked him while he was in that organization and it could be a reason that Toronto pushes to acquire him with a contract attached. The Maple Leafs need to also think about their future, and Hanifin would be a great piece in the top-four to take pressure off of Morgan Rielly.
