Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin will be skating in his 700th career NHL game tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Hanifin was the first defenseman selected in the 2015 NHL draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. The four players selected before him were Connor McDavid, his current teammate and long-time friend Jack Eichel, Dylan Strome and Mitch Marner. Hanifin had spent his draft-year season with Boston College as an under-ager and tore up the NCAA, scoring five goals and 23 points in 37 games.
Hanifin immediately jumped into the Hurricanes lineup, recording four goals and 22 points in 79 games. The Boston, Massachusetts native would spend two more seasons with the Hurricanes before he and Elias Lindholm were dealt to the Calgary Flames for Adam Fox, Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland.
Hanifin’s next six seasons were spent with the Flames where he developed into one of the league’s best two-way defensemen. With the Flames entering a rebuild and Hanifin’s contract on the brink of expiring, the Golden Knights acquired Hanifin via trade before signing him to an eight-year contract.
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In the 27-year-olds first 699 games, he’s registered 65 goals and 297 points. His offensive game never hit the level that many scouts anticipated but the value he provides as a puck mover and defender at 6’3 is incredibly valuable and is something Hanifin’s current head coach understands.
“He’s calm out there, got could composure, doesn’t get rattled and plays a lot of minutes for us,” said Bruce Cassidy. “He plays in all situations so I think he knows what he is. He’s a guy who can really use his feet to help in many areas of the game. Breakouts, puck retrievals, neutral zone counters, offensive blue line, getting up with the rush, defending with his gaps, laterally and he wants to initiate. I like that about Noah. He wants to be involved and wants to make something happen. You got to be careful with that when you’re that good that you don’t chase the game and I think he’s done a good job of letting the game come to him most nights.”
The Golden Knights arguably had the best blue line in the NHL before Hanifin’s arrival but his entrance almost solidifies it. He fits the mould of the modern-day defenceman. He’s a wonderful skater, has the hands to move the puck efficiently, both with his passing and puckhandling, and defends the rush brilliantly making it difficult for opponents to generate offence in transition. Despite that, Cassidy believes Hanifin has more to offer.
“To start the year I don’t think he was as comfortable as he is now. For whatever reason thats a good thing. Maybe it’s the newness of being here, I know he came late last year, probably didn’t have time to think about it, could be, but right now his game is trending in the right direction.”
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In the first year of an eight-year deal, Golden Knights fans will be accustomed to Hanifin’s all-around game if they haven’t already.
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