What can the Calgary Flames carry for defenseman Noah Hanifin?

With the NHL's March 8 trade deadline less than a month away, we've got you covered Daily Faceoff With at least one trading event each day until the deadline.

Today we continue our player profile series with Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin, who is the #1 player on the trade target board.

2024 Trade deadline countdown: 25 days

NOAH HANIFIN
Left Defense, Calgary Flames
Shooting: Left
Age: 27
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 215 lbs
Bottom line: $4.95 million
Deadline: Pending UFA
2023-24 Stats: 53 GP, 9 G, 20 A, 29 points, 23:43 TOI
Career Stats: Season 9 (Carolin, Calgary), 651 GP, 58 G, 210 A, 268 points
Best year: 2021-22, 81 GP, 10 G, 38 A, 48 points, plus-27, 9:18 PM TOI
Playoffs: 3 matches, 2 rounds won, 27 GP, 0 G, 8 A, 8 points

Archetype and ideal role

Puck-moving defenseman, 1st pair

Hanifin's game has grown significantly since arriving in Calgary, becoming a No. 2 linebacker who slides up the middle, transitions seamlessly between offense and defense and can contribute on both special teams units. It is the first tenant protector available in the market.

Scouting report

Three main attributes contribute to Hanifin's success: skating, hockey intelligence and determination. Hanifin isn't afraid to have the puck, and he uses his feet and high hockey IQ to be a factor in all three areas of the ice.

One of the first things that stands out is that Hanifin's reading of when to join the rush is really timely. He is a regular contributor and presence in the game as the fourth skater on the ice for the Flames. If he carries the puck up the ice, he doesn't run away and plays on the perimeter, attacking the net. He is in the 95th percentile (100) among defensemen in shots on goal this season. When set up in the offensive zone, he spots openings and makes his way to the net, whether on the strong side or the weak side.

Part of that is the mindset, but part of it is his ability to reach to make the play. According to NHL EDGE player and puck tracking data, Hanifin's 22.8 mph fastball is in the 81st percentile this season. Yes, he logs the most minutes (23:43), but Hanifin also covers the 98th percentile in skate distance in the game.

Its wheels allow it to cover bad gaps by “surfing” or by shifting its weight while sliding backwards. He recovers pucks between defenders at a very high rate, especially on dump-offs, which is a very valuable skill in pressure-filled playoff games. He also ranks 11th among all defensemen in scoring per 60 minutes.

Hanifin's passing in the neutral zone is extremely accurate in transition, making him one of the most consistent defenders in the league in that category. His defensive game may not have much of a jump, but he effectively picks apart stick plays on defense. From a scheme perspective, Hanifin could fit in with a team that plays passively in the neutral zone, but any team that promotes surfing for their defensemen could use his skating even more.

Buyer Beware

Hanifin will play in the offensive zone, but don't expect him to work in the blue line like Kyle Makar, Quinn Hughes or Kris Letang. It's just not his game, he's just not as fluid in that area and that's one of the reasons why he's not effective on the power play. It's important to note that not every power play requires commanding the entire 85 feet of ice.

Don't confuse Hanifin as a physical defender either. He ranks 125th among defensemen in hits. He's sometimes seen as someone who skates more for impact than his body, and he can land a few hits when the occasion arises.

Finally, while the transition is elite, Hanifin committed the 16th most turnovers per 60 minutes among defensemen (at least 35 games played). It's not necessarily a shot, some of it is just a byproduct of a defenseman having more puck possession.

Potential candidates

Detroit Red Wings: Jake Wallman has played well on the left side, but the Red Wings could strengthen their D, and they have the assets to trade for Hanifin, as well as the cap space to sign him.
New Jersey Devils: Analytically and stylistically, Hanifin is a better version of Damon Severson. They could have just signed him. Luke Hughes is their left-back of the future, but Hanifin can help a lot now.
New York Islanders: Hanifin is a good fit for a team in need of reinforcements.
Tampa Bay Lightning: We know the Bolts are harassing defensemen. They don't have the assets to buy it. And can they afford to re-sign him?
Toronto Maple Leafs: Hanifin and Chris Tanev would make a lot of sense in a package. And solve many of Toronto's problems. There's also getting to know GM Brad Treliving. It's much closer to home, but still in Canada, and Hanifin is believed to be interested in playing in the US market.
Vegas Golden Knights: Yes, Shea Theodore will lead the left side of Vegas' defense, but Alec Martinez is coming off the books and if the Golden Knights spend big again, a lot of that money could be allocated to Hanifin.

Comparative trade returns

March 19, 2022
To Boston: Hampus Lindholm, Cody Curran
To Anaheim: 2022 1st pick (#22 overall), 2023 2nd pick, 2024 2nd pick, Urho Vaakanainen, John Moore

March 1, 2023
To Los Angeles: Vladislav Gavrikov, Joonas Korpisalo
To Columbus: 2023 1st pick (No. 22 overall), 2024 3rd pick, Jonathan Quick

There may not be a more perfect trade prospect for the Flames than Hampus Lindholm heading to Beantown in 2022. And it's not because Hanifin is from Boston. It's really that Lindholm and Hanifin are stylistically comparable, and they were the same then and now, and both have the same pedigree as the No. 5 and No. 6 overall picks in their draft years. They also have a relatively similar cap hit ($4.95 vs $5.2M). In fact, if you ask GMs which quarterback they'd prefer — Lindholm or Hanifin — they're likely to be split in their opinions.

There's no question the Ducks did well in the trade, and the Bruins are very pleased. Lindholm led the league in plus/minus last year (plus-49) and finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting as the Bruins set NHL records for wins and points in a season. Part of the reason the return was so good was that the Bruins were so confident they could extend Lindholm that they signed him to an eight-year, $52 million deal just hours after the trade.

A team that acquires Hanifin could try to extend him, even if he is not part of the deal. Top pairing defenders are not often available. Now we have some idea of how much that will cost, as the Flames and Hanifin came close to signing him to an eight-year, $60 million deal earlier this offseason worth $7.5 million. Hanifin's feet got cold. This Lindholm contract looks relatively good, even at two years old.

The problem is, there's a limited market for teams with the assets in demand, the need on the blue line and the status of a contender to make a big splash on Hanifin.

If that market doesn't pan out, the Flames could check out a first-round pick and a prospect. At the lower end of the trade scale, the Flames have the Gavrikov deal, which drops to a single first-round pick, while Korpisalo and Quick in the third make the money worthwhile. But Ganifin is more impressive than Gavrikov.

Curriculum vitae

Hanifin is a first-pairing, minute-chewing defenseman who skates well, can play in any situation, and has developed into a comfortable player. He could help a contending team to a Stanley Cup and 650 more NHL games after that.

Daily Faceoff analyst John Goyens contributed to this report. Find him on Twitter: @gourmet_hockey

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