Don Sweeney May Look To Add The Hottest Player On The Market
Sweeney's persistent pursuit of the Norwood, MA, native and former Boston College defenseman has been a poorly guarded secret during his tenure as the general manager of the Boston Bruins.
The strategic moves made during the 2015 NHL Entry Draft aimed at acquiring the fifth overall pick for Noah Hanifin did not unfold as planned. We won't delve into the outcome of the three consecutive first-round picks Sweeney did make that year.
Despite the setbacks, Sweeney's interest in Hanifin remains steadfast. Now, at 26, Hanifin is among the Calgary Flames' pending unrestricted free agents likely to be on the move by the March 8 NHL Trade deadline.
The recent public trade request by another Flames' UFA, defenseman Nikita Zadorov, has rekindled the NHL trade rumors surrounding the team.
Pierre LeBrun, a reputable NHL insider, shed light on the situation, stating that Zadorov's trade request is just the beginning.
Other pending UFAs like Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, and Elias Lindholm are reportedly on the Flames' trading block as they prepare for a roster reset.
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According to LeBrun, Hanifin was close to signing a lucrative extension with the Flames worth around $60 million. However, he decided to pause and reconsider, leading to the current trade speculation. The Flames, in no rush, are open to offers until the March 8 deadline.
LeBrun suggests that Hanifin could have signed an extension last month, but he opted to wait. The Flames are willing to entertain trade offers, but the deadline provides them ample time to secure a favorable return.
As for the Bruins, Sweeney may choose to wait until July, armed with an expected $28.5 million or more in salary cap space. The risk, however, is that Hanifin might sign elsewhere before then.
While nothing seems imminent, it's advised to keep an eye on Sweeney as the NHL trade sweepstakes for Hanifin gain momentum once again.
