"I know I had a great time in Calgary and I love my time here"
The reaction towards Noah Hanifin will be an interesting study when the now-Vegas Golden Knights defenceman hits the ice against the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
On one hand, Hanifin departed via trade last week among the top-10 on the franchise’s all-time list for games played (420), goals (42), assists (149) and points (191) among blueliners. On the other hand, it’s no secret the Flames offered a lucrative, long-term contract that he spurned, which meant dealing away the pending unrestricted free agent and all but killing Calgary’s playoff hopes. Top it off with how people feel about him trying to steer the direction of where he would be dealt with the hopes it would be a landing that would be a palatable location for him to re-sign and stay.
It won’t be a love-in at the Saddledome akin to Jarome Iginla’s return, but the degree of vitriol will be worth watching.
“I’m trying not to think about that too much, just trying to focus on my play,” Hanifin said after the morning skate in anticipation of the clash. “You can’t be worried about the distractions during the game and stuff like that, just go out and execute and perform. Whatever does happen, I know I had a great time in Calgary and I love my time here.”
No matter what anybody thinks of how his tenure played out, Hanifin has repeatedly said positive things about his time in the Stampede City.
“It was incredible. I played on some amazing teams and met a lot of great people here. I really enjoyed my time,” he said. “I said it in the past, in a way I grew up here. I came here 21 years old and was here a long time.
“The piece I’ll miss the most moving on is the relationships you make with people, your teammates, trainers, management, everybody I got to know the last six years and had a huge impact on my life. Even friends I made in the community, I met a lot of people away from hockey and I’ll miss seeing.”
That said, the page has been turned and now the 27-year-old defenceman is gunning for a Stanley Cup with the defending champions.
“There’s a standard I recognized right away when I came in, and it’s all about winning,” said Hanifin, who has collected a pair of assists in his first three games with Vegas. “Coming in as an outsider, it’s exciting. It’s a good opportunity to do what I can best and return to their goal.”
Adding Hanifin will help the Golden Knights in their quest to repeat. Vegas already had one of the best defence corps in the league and adding a player who can log minutes in all situations sure helps the cause. Coach Bruce Cassidy knew the organization was big-game hunting at the deadline — and did plenty by bringing a pair of forwards in Anthony Mantha and Tomas Hertl into the fold — but admitted a pleasant surprise to add Hanifin amidst it all.
“My reaction was, another good player in the lineup; Who wouldn’t like that, right?” Cassidy said.
“He adds pace to our game in terms of breaking pucks out, joining the rush, even forechecks at the o-zone blueline, being able to keep pucks alive and kill some rushes before they get started.”
