The Vegas Golden Knights acquired defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. Hanifin joins the Golden Knights with 20 games left in the regular season and brings his well-rounded game to Vegas’ blueline.
Here are five things you need to know about the newest Golden Knight!
- Hanifin is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. The 27-year-old left-shot defenseman stands at 6’3 and weighs in at 207 pounds. His size is an addition to the team’s blueline that already features an average height of 6’3.
- Hanifin has recorded 35 points (11 G, 24 A) in 61 games this season and was the point leader for Calgary’s blueline. His +13 rating was the best among Flames defensemen this season. The 2023-24 season marks the third straight season Hanifin has hit the 30-point mark. He established a career-high of 48 points (10 G, 38 A) during the 2021-22 campaign with the Flames.
- He is in his ninth NHL season after being selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2015 NHL draft (5th overall). Hanifin spent three seasons with the Hurricanes before being traded to the Flames on June 23, 2018.
- In 659 games, Hanifin has put up 274 points (60 G, 214 A). He’s tallied 67 (11 G, 56 A) power-play points and nine game-winning goals in his career. While skating with the Hurricanes, Hanifin recorded 83 points (18 G, 65 A) in 239 games, including finishing fourth in scoring among rookie defensemen during the 2015-16 season.
- Hanifin earned a gold medal with Team USA at the 2014 U-18 World Junior Championship alongside current Golden Knight Jack Eichel. Hanifin and Eichel played together recently – just not hockey! The two close friends competed against Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette from the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast in a golf match called the Sandbagger Invitational which aired in November.
