The Calgary Flames are trading defenceman Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights, the teams announced Wednesday.
The return for the Flames is 26-year-old defenceman Daniil Miromanov, a conditional first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick. There is double salary retention on Hanifin and the Philadelphia Flyers will be the third-party broker and will receive the Golden Knights' 2024 fifth-round pick.
“It was extremely important to us to ensure this deal featured a first-round draft pick, and a third-round pick that has the potential to become a second-round selection,” said Flames general manager Craig Conroy.
“Additionally, 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. He has good size at 6’4 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.”
The first-rounder will be in 2025 unless the Golden Knights decide to trade it ahead of the deadline. Additionally, the third-rounder will become a second if the Golden Knights advance to the second round of the playoffs.
After the trade was complete, the Flames and Miromanov agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $2.5 million.
The move takes one of the biggest names off the board ahead of Friday's trade deadline.
Hanifin, 27, is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is rumoured to prefer to play in the United States. With this trade, he gets his wish, joining the defending Stanley Cup champion.
The Golden Knights add yet another piece as they hunt for back-to-back Cups after acquiring winger Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Vegas has the cap flexibility possible to make these deals as an injury to captain Mark Stone landed him on LTIR until at least the end of the regular season, freeing up his $9.5-million salary.
Until Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning were rumoured favourites to land the six-foot-three blueliner.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that there is no extension for Hanifin as an immediate part of this trade.
Hanifin set a new career high with 11 goals this season and has 35 points in 61 games. He's now set to face his former team March 14 as the Golden Knights make the trip to the Saddledome.
It has been a busy 10 months for Flames rookie GM Craig Conroy. After sending forward Tyler Toffoli to New Jersey at the draft in June, Conroy dealt centre Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks before the All-Star break and veteran defenceman Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars last week.
Hanifin was selected fifth-overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, but was traded in 2018, along with Elias Lindholm, to the Flames in exchange for Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland and then-prospect Adam Fox.
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