According to Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs recently proposed a trade to the Calgary Flames in hopes of obtaining defenseman Noah Hanifin. There are indications that Hanifin has informed the Flames of his intention to explore free agency, with speculation suggesting he may prefer teams in the United States. This revelation from the NHL insider comes as somewhat unexpected.
Although not officially confirmed, the report implies that the Leafs inquired about Hanifin but were likely told that they aren’t a suitable long-term fit. This suggests that the Maple Leafs may need to focus their attention on acquiring another defenseman, such as revisiting Chris Tanev or pursuing someone who won’t command as high a price before the March 8 trade deadline.
It’s possible that the Flames rejected the Leafs’ offer, as the Leafs have reportedly been attempting to secure their top targets by bundling multiple lower-value draft picks rather than parting with a first-round pick. The response from other teams receiving such offers has been less than enthusiastic.
Hanifin Bruins Rumors Getting Up
Jimmy Murphy from Boston Hockey Now hinted on Thursday about Noah Hanifin’s future, suggesting that there might be some significant interest from the Boston side regarding the defenseman. With the Flames facing the Bruins that night, Murphy posed the question of which team Hanifin might be leaving the Saddledome with.
The Bruins have been keeping an eye on Hanifin since his draft year and have previously attempted to acquire him. Given that Hanifin hails from Boston, it’s plausible that he could be considering a move there, making the Bruins the frontrunners in this scenario.
If Hanifin does indeed join the Bruins, it would not only mean a missed opportunity for Toronto, but also potentially more encounters between him and the Maple Leafs throughout the season and possibly even in the playoffs.
