Complications shape the story behind the Noah Hanifin trade

TAMPA – The only simple thing about the Noah Hanifin trade is that he’s no longer a Flame.

Everything else surrounding the complicated, three-way swap that sent the 27-year-old defenceman to Vegas late Wednesday requires explanation, as the deal that landed the Flames three pieces features more conditions than a winter road trip through the Rockies.

The short of it sees the Flames acquire a first-round pick (in 2025 or 2026), a conditional third round pick (see below) and 26-year-old defenceman Daniil Miromanov (who was a pending UFA). 

The Flyers got involved with sharing some salary retention with the Flames, and Miromanov’s agent got involved by helping Craig Conroy sign the undrafted Russian to a two-year extension.

Where the complications really began were with the parameters of the deal Conroy tried to start brokering several weeks ago.

While it seemed the stage was set for a home run akin to the Elias Lindholm swap a month earlier, it had quickly become known around the league that on top of the eight-team no-trade list Hanifin submitted to the team, he wasn’t interested in being a rental.

Understandably, it hurt his market value.  

Unlike the Lindholm sweepstakes, during which only one interested team asked to speak to Lindholm’s agent about the possibility of an extension, such parameters narrowed the list of potential suitors, and thus the competition.

What was left were a handful of contenders whose cupboards of prospects and picks were largely bare.

But then along came Vegas.

And while the defending champs might not have the deepest of the league’s pools of prospects, they were willing to part with the top picks the Flames were looking for.

Thus, a deal was brokered.

No, this wasn’t the windfall fans hoped the trade deadline’s top defensive product would net the retooling Flames.

The first-round pick considered as the basis of any deal was included, but it doesn’t come until 2025, that is unless it’s a top-10 pick or the Knights trade that pick before Friday’s deadline.

If so, the first-rounder is in 2026.

The third-rounder becomes a second rounder if the Knights win a first-round series this year.

The Flames would probably have preferred a top young prospect in the deal, but instead got an intriguing, 26-year-old Russian who has worked his way through the ECHL, KHL and AHL, where the six-foot-four, 207-pound right-handed defenceman had an impressive 11 goals and 40 points in 53 games two years ago.

“We have been tracking Daniil the past couple of seasons and we are pleased to have been able to ensure he was a part of this trade,” said Conroy in the team’s release.

“He has good size at six-foot-four (207 pounds), with good skating ability and speed. He commands a heavy shot, makes quick plays and we are excited about his offensive upside. 

“At the AHL level he has been dominant in creating offence as a defenceman and we anticipate that to translate to the NHL.”

He’s expected to join the Flames on their current road trip, which has them in Tampa Thursday, Sunrise Saturday, and Carolina Sunday.

He has 29 games of NHL experience and was slated to be a Group 6 UFA this summer until the Flames inked him to a two-year contract extension Wednesday that will pay him $1.25 million annually. 

“It’s never easy, these deals are hard,” a tired-looking Conroy told Flames TV after consummating a deal that will see the Flames retain 50 per cent of Hanifin’s salary while Philadelphia retains 25 per cent, in exchange for a Vegas fifth rounder. 

“We were looking for three pieces and we were able to get three pieces. 

“We’ve been able to add some players and some depth players.

“You start looking at our draft board and we have a lot of opportunities to find players.”

While the particulars of the deal will undoubtedly be deemed underwhelming by fans who understandably had bigger stars in their eyes, the reality is that Conroy continues to accomplish what he promised when hired: get younger and make significant change.

He’s swapped out Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tanev, Lindholm and Hanifin.

His youth movement has helped the team identify Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil as productive NHLers, while arming his scouting staff with two more first-rounders, a second, four thirds, a fourth and a fifth (not to mention two of those picks can be bumped up a round with conditions.)

Also in the organization are Yegor Sharangovich, Andrei Kuzmenko, Artem Grushnikov, Joni Jurmo, Hunter Brzustewicz and Miromanov.

Some of the deals he’s made proved easier than others.

Many were initially panned before reason set in.

This one will be no different.