If the defenseman will not sign an extension, Calgary is best-served to move him sooner than later
The smoke questioning Noah Hanifin’s future with the Calgary Flames is becoming thicker and thicker.
The Flames and their fans are all too aware the sting of the fire that may come with it.
Over the past week, chatter has become louder and louder that Hanifin has little interest in re-signing with the Flames. The defenseman has one season remaining on a deal with a $4.95 million average salary cap-hit and is due to become an unrestricted free-agent after the 2023-24 campaign.
A few days ago, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freidman said “there’s a feeling out there that Hanifin is going to be available” and on Friday, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported the “situation is likely headed for a trade.”
New general manager Craig Conroy has said he does not want players leaving for nothing via free agency, as was the case with Johnny Gaudreau last summer. Finding a trade partner in the near future would solve that issue.
Certainly, keeping Hanifin in the fold would be a desirable move for the Flames. He is 26 years old, heading into the prime of his career, and capable of posting 50-plus point seasons while skating in top-four role.
Unfortunately, if a player does not want to stay, those aforementioned attributes make it an easy case the Flames are best-served to deal him. Hanifin would have great value, and could kick off a whale of a bidding war, considering what else may be on the market.
The list of defensemen available this summer via free agency is uninspiring to say the least. There are thirty-something players in the likes of Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg or Shayne Gostisbehere, but Hanifin is much younger than that crew. Matt Dumba is biggest name pending UFA who is similar in age to Hanifin.
Next summer’s group of potential UFAs includes the likes of Brandon Montour, Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce and Devon Toews, but all at least three years older than Hanifin.
There are plenty of teams on the hunt for a Hanifin-calibre player, and that could mean a boon of a return for a Flames franchise that needs a retooling.
With an extensive group of players due to become UFAs after the 2023-24 campaign, including forwards Elias Lindholm, Tyler Toffoli and Mikael Backlund and defensemen Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov and Oliver Kylington, the Flames could become big players, especially leading up to this year's draft and free agency period.
All of those players won’t remain in Calgary, and — frankly — the Flames need the turnover.
This offseason has already been newsworthy with a new GM and head coach in place, as well as Jarome Iginla returning to the organization.
What we have seen may very well be just the beginning.