The Calgary Flames made a significant trade last off-season by acquiring Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Florida Panthers for forward Matthew Tkachuk. After one season, the Panthers seemed to get the better of the deal as Tkachuk led Florida to the Stanley Cup Finals while Calgary flamed out by missing the NHL playoffs. Huberdeau produced 60 points less than last season, and Weegar’s point total went from 44 in 2021-22 to 31 this year. The results were disappointing in Calgary, and the urgency is there to make the postseason in 2023-24.
Trade rumors are surfacing, and many players from the roster, including forwards Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm, and Tyler Toffoli, have been mentioned. One defenseman has been discussed as well. Noah Hanifin is entering the last year of his contract worth $5 million and, as a 26-year-old, could be a hot commodity on the market. SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman has mentioned the Flames as an active team in the trade market this season, and Hanifin should be a candidate to change teams. New General Manager Craig Conroy has begun discussions about several players, and teams have inquired about Hanifin.
The Flames originally acquired Hanifin in 2018 in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. Calgary acquired Hanifin and Lindholm in a deal that sent Dougie Hamilton and Adam Fox to Carolina. In five seasons with the Flames, the former Boston College star has totaled 31 goals and 125 assists in 359 games with a minus-20 rating.
Friedman has a feeling that Hanifin could be moved soon. “I think the Flames are doing their due diligence now and kind of finding out where all their guys feel. The Flames have not confirmed any of this, so I’ll say that straight out, but I will say that there’s a feeling out there that Hanifin is going to be available. So I think there are some teams out there looking for defense who are beginning to think, ‘Okay, what are we going to have to do to do this?’ Any team acquiring Hanifin would have to be willing to sign the left-shot defenseman to a long-term contract.”
Teams would also have to possess high-end talent to include in the deal. Two clubs that could swing a deal for Hanifin are Toronto and Winnipeg. William Nylander is a player that the Maple Leafs could potentially move on from. The Jets could include forward Mark Scheifele in a deal for Hanifin as well. Boston General Manager has had an affinity for Hanifin, who is a native of the Boston area and has inquired about the blue liner in years past. There is also a possibility that teams that own high draft picks in the upcoming draft could deal their pick in a package for someone like Hanifin and one of his teammates.
For now, Noah Hanifin remains a Calgary Flame, but with a new general manager and a new head coach, the Flames could be looking to make significant changes heading into the new season.
