The choice has lastly been made. After considering for months, defenceman Noah Hanifin has chosen to check the market moderately than signal an extension with the Calgary Flames. With the choice, it signifies that Hanifin’s days with the Flames are numbered, as he might be dealt forward of the March eighth commerce deadline.

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Whereas many groups can be fascinated with buying an on a regular basis top-four defenceman like Hanifin, all of it comes all the way down to what the 27-year-old needs. He could not have a no-trade clause in his contract, however groups across the league might be hesitant to present a giant package deal if he isn’t prepared to first conform to an extension.

Primarily based on final evening’s reporting from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Hanifin’s choice is to play south of the border. These feedback make it appear much more doubtless that he might be dealt to an American-based staff, and these three, particularly, stand out as sturdy suitors.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning will not be as dominant of a staff as they had been a number of seasons in the past, however they continue to be a risk within the Japanese Convention. Up entrance, they possess among the most harmful weapons within the league, similar to Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Brayden Level. Within the pipes, they’ve top-of-the-line within the enterprise in Andrei Vasilevskiy. Their blue line, nevertheless, has change into slightly skinny.

The rationale for that’s due to a season-ending harm suffered by Mikhail Sergachev earlier within the month. His harm has created a major gap on the left aspect of the Lightning’s again finish, and Hanifin is undoubtedly the best choice available on the market to interchange it. The Bolts don’t have a first-round choose till the 2026 draft, however they do have a number of intriguing prospects that basic supervisor Craig Conroy will surely have curiosity in.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins, regardless of dropping each Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci within the offseason, have remained top-of-the-line groups within the NHL. Taking part in for a contender can be thrilling sufficient for Hanifin, and provided that he was born and raised in Boston, it suggests he can be blissful to signal a long-term extension with them.

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The Bruins might actually make room from a roster perspective for Hanifin, as their left aspect at present consists of Matt Grzelcyk, Hampus Lindholm, and Derek Forbort. Cap-wise, the 2 sides must get artistic, because the Bruins have lower than $90,000 in house. Whether or not meaning involving a 3rd staff or the Flames taking a contract in return stays to be seen, however don’t be shocked to see the Bruins within the combine.

New Jersey Devils

The Flames have been speaking lots with the New Jersey Devils over the previous few weeks, although these talks have primarily targeted on Jacob Markstrom. Whereas the Devils actually want a goaltender, whether or not forward of the deadline or within the offseason, their again finish might additionally use an instantaneous improve.

Accidents have taken their toll on the Devils’ blue line, as they’re at present with out Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler. Their left aspect is kind of underwhelming, because it at present consists of Kevin Bahl, Luke Hughes, and Brendan Smith. If the Devils wish to get again right into a playoff spot this season, they might want to enhance their blue line, and buying Hanifin would enable them to just do that. The Devils are a great slot in loads of senses, as they’ve over $10 million in cap house and personal their first-round choose in each the 2024 and 2025 drafts.

Thrilling Occasions for the Flames

Whereas followers in Calgary would like their staff to be contending for a Stanley Cup, the very fact of the matter is that was by no means going to occur with this roster. As a substitute, they’re retooling on the fly and are shortly stockpiling some wonderful younger expertise that ought to assist them change into a wonderful staff within the years to come back. Shifting Hanifin ought to assist with that in a giant means.