Noah Hanifin Signs With Calgary Flames

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NHL

Noah Hanifin Signs Calgary Flames Contract Worth $29.7 Million

About two months after being traded from the Carolina Hurricanes, restricted free agent Noah Hanifin signs a six-year, $29.7 million deal with the Calgary Flames. His new contract carries a $4.95 million cap hit—a significant increase from his entry-level cap hit of $925,000. Hanifin and teammate Elias Lindholm were traded to the Flames in exchange for Michael Ferland, Adam Fox, and Dougie Hamilton.

While salary was likely a major delay in the signing, the other terms could have factored. The contract pays out $3 million in signing bonuses during 2018-19, but carries no other signing or performance bonuses. A modified no-trade agreement goes into effect during the final two years of the contract. At that time, Hanifin will be allowed to submit an eight-team no-trade list.

The trade came following a career year in goals and points for the 21-year-old defenseman. In each of his first two years, Hanifin scored only four goals. During 2017-18, he scored 10 goals and totaled 32 points with an average on-ice time of 18:52 per game.

Hanifin Helps Calgary’s Future

The Flames are set with Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Matthew Tkachuk among those young offensive players. However, the defense as a whole is older. Four of the seven roster defensemen are 28 years old, while captain Mark Giordano is 34. It’s time for an infusion of young blood.

Six years allows Hanifin to grow as a player and enhance his game, making it easier to transition in rookies when the time comes. The Flames have four restricted free agents that will need new contracts following the 2018-19 season and around $2.5 million in remaining cap space. Determining their starting goaltender will be a priority here, too. Younger defensemen with an average annual value lower than $3.5 million could alleviate some of that pressure.

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