Fantasy Hockey: Golden Knights Acquire Noah Hanifin
Noah Hanifin has been traded to the Golden Knights… but what does it mean in terms of fantasy hockey? That’s why you’re here and I’ve done enough typing today so let’s not screw around more than we have to on this intro paragraph. Let’s get to the good stuff.
The trade deadline in fantasy hockey is over so this is kinda a moot point. I still think it’s worth talking about if you’re in a dynasty league because this should still apply. Same for redraft although we will have a better idea for next year after we get the rest of the sample size during this playoff run.
At the end of the day, I think Hanifin will be serviceable as a fantasy play but I wouldn’t count on him being a savior. In reality, he’s the third guy in the pecking order. Shea Theodore runs the power play and that’s not going to change. Alex Pietrangelo is locked in as the all-around workhorse number-one D who plays a ton of minutes. Hanifin will be there to make his life easier as the partner on the top pair.
If Hanifin isn’t getting a ton of run on the man advantage, how much value does he really have? When it comes to blue liners in fantasy, we know now more than ever that nothing is more important than having the top PP specialists in the league to rack up points. Without it, the upside is just limited.
Now it’s not all bad. Hanifin goes to a better team and that’s never a bad thing. A team that should score more goals than a tanking Flames team. The key will be if Hanifin can absorb the block shot number that Alec Martinez was contributing. Martinez has been a tank for my fantasy team averaging 2.6 points per game mostly because of the way he eats pucks. He’s 4th in the NHL in blocked shots and has missed a ton of games.
If Hanifin can fill that role while providing Vegas more upside in that role, we might really be cooking. Can he become what Devon Toews and Filip Hronek have been in fantasy this season? That could be very possible and if so, you have an asset on your hands.
Long story short; the move to Vegas is probably a good thing for Hanifin owners. If you have him, be happy he’s now on a playoff team and gets a chance to play with his good buddy from Mass, Jack Eichel.
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