Report: Vegas Golden Knights to acquire defenseman Noah Hanifin from Calgary Flames

According to a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, a contract extension is also in the works, though nothing is official yet.

Hanifin was in the last year of a six-year contract that he signed with the Flames in August 2018. This contract saw the Boston native make $4.95 million a year, with a modified no-trade clause in the last two seasons, in which Hanifin submitted an eight-team no-trade list.

The Flames had been trying to get Hanifin to sign an extension to stay in Calgary, but it never panned out. It forced general manager Craig Conroy to search for trade suitors, or risk losing the exceptional blueliner for nothing if he went to free agency this offseason.

There is no question Hanifin’s trade stock was high, as he was playing great on a team that has been in and out of the playoff conversation for much of the season. In 61 games, the former Boston College product has scored 11 goals and 24 assists, and was fifth on the Flames in scoring. He is on pace to surpass his career-best 48 points set during the 2021-22 season.

This is the second time Hanifin has been traded. In June 2018, he, along with Elias Lindholm, was traded by the Carolina Hurricanes to Calgary, which saw Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and Adam Fox’s signing rights go the other way.

In 659 NHL games, Hanifin has scored 60 goals and 214 assists, including eight assists in 27 playoff games.

It is the second trade that Vegas has made in less than 24 hours. On Tuesday, the Golden Knights picked up Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals, giving the reigning Stanley Cup champions a little more depth up front as well.

The Golden Knights (33-22-7) are currently tied for third in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Kings, which has Vegas holding the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

The Flames (30-26-5) are sixth in the Pacific, eight points back of the Golden Knights.

More details to come on the Flames’ return in the trade with the Golden Knights.