LAS VEGAS -- Noah Hanifin was surprised when he got the call that he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, but the defenseman more than welcomed his new opportunity.
"It happened fast. I got a call from my agent and I knew [the Golden Knights] were involved," Hanifin said Thursday, one day after being acquired from the Calgary Flames in a three-team trade. "Then an hour later, I was traded here. My first reaction was just excitement. Obviously, they're Stanley Cup champions here. They know how to win. It's an unbelievable organization to be a part of. I'm just excited to come in and help."
Hanifin was in Tampa, Florida, when he found out about the trade, with the Flames set to play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. He and forward Anthony Mantha, who was acquired from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, will each make their debut for Vegas against the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday. (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, SNP).
Hanifin, who will play on the top defense pair with Alex Pietrangelo, has 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 61 games this season. The 27-year-old is averaging 23:46 of ice time per game.
"[Hanifin] is a pretty good player who knows the West very well," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He plays in all situations. He's played against top players basically his whole career. He's a nice add for us. Noah is going to play on the power play, on the penalty kill. He's going to step up with 'Petro' for now."
Hanifin was acquired from the Flames for defenseman Daniil Miromanov, a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 draft. The Flames also retained 50 percent of Hanifin's salary with Philadelphia -- which received a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft from Vegas, and retained 25 percent of the contract.
There shouldn't be much of adjustment regarding the style of play of the Golden Knights, Hanifin said, noting the Flames play a similar defensive structure.
"Sometimes coming to a new team, you need to adapt a little bit," Hanifin said. "Just for me tonight, I'm just going to go in, play hard and keep it simple. Not do anything crazy and just get my legs going and do what I can to help the team get the two points."
Hanifin, who is in final season of a six-year, $29.7 million contract ($4.95 million average annual value) he signed with the Flames on Aug. 30, 2018, can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, but said he isn't focused on that.
"That'll be something that gets sorted out later," Hanifin said. "It's been a crazy 24 hours just to get here and fit into the room and get ready for the game tonight."
Mantha, who has 34 points (20 goals and 14 assists) in 56 games this season, was acquired for a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He is in the final season of a four-year contract he signed with the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 3, 2020, and can become a UFA after the season.
He will play right wing on the second line and is expected to play on the second power-play unit.
"[Vegas] came to get me to bring some offense," Mantha said. "I've been shooting the puck. No lie. The last couple of years, I tended to stay away from it. This year I had to let it go, and it's been working out for me."
The Golden Knights (33-22-7) have lost three games in a row and are 2-7-1 in their past 10 games. They currently hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the West.
"If it doesn't go our way early on for whatever reason, we've got to get to our game in a hurry," Cassidy said. "…Get out of those funks quickly and get yourself back in the game before you give the other team too much confidence."
