In an audacious move on the NHL chessboard, the Vegas Golden Knights claimed a new knight in their ranks, securing the services of seasoned defenceman Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames. The transaction, a strategic play by both organizations, was consummated with the Golden Knights dispatching defenceman Daniil Miromanov to the Flames, along with a conditional 2025 first-round pick that is fortified with a top-10 protection. Caught in the draft of this significant deal was a conditional 2025 third-round pick that could ascend to a second-rounder, should the Knights triumph in a playoff round.
As part of this intricate accord, the Flames have agreed to bear half of Hanifin’s contractual financial weight. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers have been complicit in this monetary dance, receiving a 2024 fifth-round pick as recompense for their part in retaining salary.
Whispers from the inner circles, specifically TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, unveil the likelihood of a contract extension being artfully crafted for Hanifin as part of his transition to the golden hues of Vegas. Flames General Manager Craig Conroy, with an eye for future gains, has emphasized the critical nature of the first-round draft pick and a conditional third that offers the potential for elevation.
In the wake of this complex exchange, Miromanov has penned a two-year pact with the Flames, proceeding with a reported annual value of $1.25 million according to TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston, thus prolonging his tenure in the flames of Calgary.
Miromanov, with a modest four games this season for the Golden Knights that yielded no points, also showcased his capacity for contribution with the Henderson Silver Knights, gleaning a goal and a quintet of assists in five games.
Hanifin, at the age of 27, once stood on the cusp of a lucrative eight-year, $60 million renewal with the Flames. That dream dissolved as the organization encountered turbulence, with the contract slipping away like sand through fingers, reported by Pierre LeBrun of TSN. The defenceman’s 6-foot-3 stature and left-handed shot has served him well in the final season of a six-year, $29.7 million engagement.
Originally a significant piece traded to the Flames in 2018, along with Elias Lindholm for a trio of talents that included Dougie Hamilton, Hanifin was no less remarkable this season, boasting 11 goals and 35 points across 61 games.
Drafted as a bright promise by the Hurricanes in 2015 at the cherished fifth overall spot, Hanifin has since stitched together a tapestry of 60 goals and 274 points across 659 career games, spanning his time with both the Hurricanes and the Flames, crafting a legacy that the Golden Knights now hope to embellish with their own crest.
