Yesterday the NHL network released their rankings of the NHL’s Top 20 defensemen right now. While Alex Pietrangelo failed to crack the list, there was another Golden Knights defenseman who made the cut at #18 in Noah Hanifin.
Hanifin, 27, was acquired by the Golden Knights this past March from the Calgary Flames. Hanifin solidified the Golden Knights’ defense on the left side, adding another strong puck moving defensemen to go along with Shea Theodore.
The acquisition of Hanifin immediately paid off for the Knights as Hanifin produced 12 points in 19 games played with the Knights after the trade. The Knights surely noticed as the Knights signed Hanifin to a 8-year extension in April, just a few weeks after acquiring Hanifin. With the team and Hanifin now committed to each other for the forseeable future, Hanifin spoke about wanting to keep improving going forward after their season ended at the hand of the Dallas Stars this past May.
‘I owe it to this organization to come in and be my best self on and off the ice. I’m just going to try to keep getting better, keep improving. I think my first couple of months here were great. I was super happy with how everything went, the guys, the room, just being a member of this organization was awesome. I’m happy I’m going to be here a long time.”
Come next month in September, Hanifin will get his first training camp with the Golden Knights which should help Hanifin to enjoy even more success with his new team as he enters his 1st full season as a Golden Knight. This coming season could end up being a career best for Hanifin.
Hanifin finished last season with a career high in goals with 13 and his 47 points was just 1 point shy of his career high of 48 points set back in 21-22 with the Flames. NHL.com’s point projections for defensemen for 2024-2025 project Hanifin to indeed have a career year in points this season with 50.
Related: Will Knights Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo Be Left Off Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off Roster?
Noah Hanifin was drafted 5th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2015 NHL draft. In 678 games played with the Hurricanes, Flames and Golden Knights, Hanifin has scored 62 goals, 224 assists and 286 points.
