Noah Hanifin deserves every penny of his new contract with Golden Knights

Noah Hanifin isn’t on the level of Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, or Roman Josi but he is one of the most impactful two-way defensemen in the NHL. He doesn’t put up video game offensive statistics but he is incredibly skilled and defends very well. 

There is a reason that he was a 5th overall pick back in 2015 and there is a reason he was the most coveted defenseman at the NHL trade deadline this year. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, the now-rebuilding Calgary Flames chose to move on. 

They traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights and he has fit right in with the defending Stanley Cup champions. Now, he is looking to be a part of a repeating champion so he can get his name on the Cup. 

This season (mostly with Calgary, partially with Vegas), he has 13 goals and 31 assists for 44 points. No defenseman in Vegas has more. They acquired him to be one of their top defensemen on a team already loaded. With guys like Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore already there, the sky is the limit. 

The Vegas Golden Knights worked out their only issue with Noah Hanifin

The only question that came with Hanifin in this trade was his future. Would he stay in Vegas or test free agency this summer to see what he can get? Well, now we know the answer to that. He is going to stay in Vegas as he signed an eight-year deal worth $7.35 million in average annual value. 

Hanifin probably could have gotten more on the market but he is with Vegas who has a chance to win the Stanley Cup every single year because of their willingness to take chances. Now, they have another star defenseman under a long-term contract that pays him at a team-friendly rate. 

Vegas has been a little bit cold over the last few weeks so clinching the playoffs hasn’t been easy for them. However, Tomas Hertl just came back from injury, Mark Stone is working his way back in time for the playoffs, and the postseason is where all of their players shine the most. They will clinch in short order. 

Nobody wants to be playing them in the first round despite their recent struggles. Adding a stud like Hanifin, who is worth every penny, is a big reason why. Their first game with him under the new fancy deal is on Friday night against the Minnesota Wild.