Golden Knights Acquire Noah Hanifin

Golden Knights Acquire Noah Hanifin

Don’t count out the defending champs! Vegas is being Vegas and is keeping its foot on the gas during the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. One day after acquiring Anthony Mantha, the VGK have acquired defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames.

Kevin Weekes at ESPN was the first to report the news:

**Breaking News ** 🚨 📰
Credit @DarrenDreger who was on the case, I’m told the @GoldenKnights are trading for @NHLFlames D Hanifin.#HockeyX @INEOSGrenadier pic.twitter.com/YD5uJ4ZFxM

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) March 6, 2024

The metrics on Hanifin are solid. He’s not the best defender but is more than passable. He’s really good at skating and moving the puck. Can even finish his fair share of goals too.

Noah Hanifin, acquired by VGK, is a mobile puck-moving defenceman who typically plays at a top-pairing level. He's very good at a whole lot of things (skating, passing), even if he's not quite elite at anything. Impacts are down this year but microstats are steady. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/aXtFb3LmeQ

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 7, 2024

This trade undeniably makes them better. Mostly because Alec Martinez is clearly on his last legs and is running out of juice. Hanifin is expected to take his spot in the lineup as a left shot defenseman on the top pair with Alex Pietrangelo. Maybe it’s the puck mover Petro needs to propel Vegas back on top.

Who knows how big of a factor this was but apparently Hanifin and Jack Eichel are good friends. Both are from the state of Massachusetts.

Hanifin to #VegasBorn told ya so
Eichel and Hanifin are best friends. I snapped this pic of the. As they toured the ships at Canalside at NHL Draft Combine in 2015 pic.twitter.com/mRRLkhecqY

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 6, 2024

https://twitter.com/nhlmemecentral/status/1765530229270081547

Given how aggressive Vegas has been, I’m sure they went to Eichel and approached him about this. Good chance it may have been a factor in convincing Hanifin come to town.

Why It Makes Zero Sense For The Golden Knights To Pursue Noah Hanifin

We’re still waiting on the details of the trade and the possibility of an extension to follow. Stay tuned.

Update:

We finally have the return on the trade. Darren Dreger of TSN was the first to report the news. It’s Hanifin to Vegas on 75% retained. Daniil Miromanov, a first round pick, and a conditional 3rd pick go the other way. Philadelphia acted as the third party broker.

Call underway. Vegas acquires Hanifin from Calgary for a 1st round pick,
Miromanov and a Conditional 3rd, upgrades to a 2nd if VGK win a playoff round. Double salary retention. Hearing Philadelphia is the broker.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 7, 2024

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