Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin is the latest to surface in the NHL trade rumor mill. How much interest could he gather from other teams?
Most of the Calgary Flames' trade speculation focused on Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund since the end of the regular season. The two centers seemed non-committal about signing contract extensions during their end-of-season interviews.
Noah Hanifin also faces an uncertain future in Calgary. He first surfaced in the rumor mill on June 10 when Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Flames were fielding offers for the 26-year-old defenseman.
Six days later, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported all signs pointed to the 26-year-old defenseman not extending with the Flames. He believes this situation is likely headed for a trade.
Like Lindholm and Backlund, Hanifin is a year away from UFA eligibility. PuckPedia indicates his average annual value is $4.95 million. He also carries an eight-team no-trade clause.
THN Calgary's Randy Sportak thinks Hanifin should draw plenty of interest in the trade market, pointing out he's in the prime of his career and capable of putting up 50-plus points per season. The limited depth in this summer's free-agent market could make Hanifin even more enticing.
The Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could be among the suitors. Leafs GM Brad Treliving knows Hanifin well, having been the Flames GM until stepping down in April. Ben Kuzma of The Province suggested Hanifin as a possible replacement for Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who the Vancouver Canucks bought out last Friday.
If Flames GM Craig Conroy is gauging the trade market for Hanifin, he might consider moving the blueliner before the first round of the upcoming 2023 NHL draft on June 28. That's when GMs tend to be working the phones in search of deals leading up to the opening round.