ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is reporting that the Florida Panthers are making a solid push to acquire defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames. It is important to note that the Panthers do not have a first-round pick to offer in either the 2024 NHL Draft or the 2025 NHL Draft.
Even with the Panthers now involving themselves in the fray; the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs have all had reported interest in Hanifin’s services. Already carrying an impressive defensive unit, Florida may be trying to drive up the price for their rival in the Lightning.
If Hanifin does make his way to Sunrise by March 8th, it would immediately create a very good problem to have for the Panthers. By acquiring Hanifin, the organization would now have four top-four defensemen set to hit unrestricted free agency including Brandon Montour, Gustav Forsling, and the resurgent Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
The team would create some long-term flexibility on their back end, especially if one of Montour or Forsling left for greener pastures this summer. However, as all of them will no longer be a part of the Panthers organization on July 1st, 2024, there is no guarantee that any of them will decide to re-up in Florida.
The inclusion of the Panthers in the race for Hanifin is very reminiscent of the Boston Bruins’ acquisition of Dmitry Orlov last spring from the Washington Capitals. Now on pace to win the President’s Trophy with their current defensive core, Florida may be looking to put themselves over the top in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs after falling three games short last year.
In now his sixth season with the Flames organization, Hanifin is once again putting together a solid year, making him the most popular trade deadline rental option this season. In 59 games so far, Hanifin has scored 11 goals and 34 points overall, averaging 23:44 minutes of ice time per night.
The looming question surrounding any acquisition of Hanifin is how receptive he will be in discussing a contract extension with the acquiring organization. Earlier in the year, Calgary reportedly offered an eight-year, $60MM extension to Hanfin and his camp, but that was evidently not enough to convince Hanifin to stay in Alberta long-term.
Why would Arizona be in on Hanifin? Not like they’re trying to make the playoffs.
Most of Arizona’s rumored interest was centered around a sign-and-trade scenario.
Arizona is getting to the point where they almost have too many assets are really has to start trading some things. Im sure they realize not ever top 10 pick works out there called prospects for a reason. So to turn 2 guys into a 2/3 Dman for 6-8 seasons is good business
Not sure it’s legit interest from Florida. TBD. More surprising pending UFAs Forsling Montour or Reinhart have yet to be extended. Perhaps after the deadline something will get done. Panthers are looking strong.
Players in Canada are taxed over 50% on there deals and in California aswell. Players are only taxed around 37% in the no state tax states like the teams in Florida, Nashville and Dallas for instance. So If Florida offered him the same 60M over 8 year deal he would take home an extra 10M over the 8 years. He would take home 37.8M after taxes instead of 28M, I also believe agents get 10% as well. These cities have such big advantages over the Canadian and California markets tax wise and evey where has better weather then Here in Canada. These teams are so lucky that they can offer players slightly less per year and have them take home slightly more you would think the teams would be stacked for guys wanting to win championships. For those wondering if you search how much are you taxed on 10M in “X” city you will get a tax calculator to see.
Time to have a tea party!
It’s almost as if having lower taxes leads to prosperity. Go figure.
Again, Murph, your tax calculator only works if you live Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal. In the real world, a Florida player pays taxes in Quebec and Ontario for games played there.
Exactly.
If those mooching teachers and soldiers would just work for free and buy their own books and tanks (respectively) and lazy beta drivers didn’t demand roads and bridges, the already prosperous could prosper even more than they already exponentially prosper.
We can always count on 66 to lower the I.Q. of the discussion.
Here in PA. we have high taxes and consistantly the worst roads as rated by just about every trucker magazine. How can this be?
Given how you read all of them, “subtweet” many of them and occasionally slip up and respond to them directly, I’m starting to think your constant claim to have me blocked is not as accurate as you portray.
To answer your question, almost a century of buying concrete from the mob, mostly.
But, other than Obama, Rendell and Biden, it’s true, not enough investment in PA roads due to years of GOP legislature control. Shapiro (who rebuilt 95 in a few minutes) and the PA house would be glad to pass an infrastructure bill, so you could write or call GOP state senators if you care about this issue beyond this weak sauce attempt at a gotcha, which of course, you don’t.
Right, we haven’t collected enough taxes, in particular the gas tax, to maintain infrastructure. Yet states without these tax burdens can.
You have no credibility.
You are suddenly unbothered by the roads being bad, I see. Almost like it was a red herring, huh?
Call Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman and demand better roads or you have no credibility.
Spoiler alert…
As usual, you completely missed the point. Roads can be maintained without a crushing tax burden. But then again, you’re probably a big fan of California spending 128 billion on a high speed rail system that hasn’t had an inch of it built.
Calgary better be asking in return for Samoskevich if Hanafin lands there
How are states like TX & FL thriving with lower taxes? @66 can send a check directly to Shapiro- he’ll cash it. You don’t need to tax heavy- just spend wisely. As for his moronic teacher comment… My sister makes over 100K a year here in a Philly high school (granted she’s been there for 30 yrs) & the kids are as dumb as ever- so say test scores. I think she can feed her family on 80K or so. She’ll get to back up the brinks truck when she retires.
I see someone ACTUALLY blocked me instead of pretending…good for them for having the courage of their convictions, at least…so I’ll reply here.
FL thrives because of tourism and TX, despite being the supposed jewel of red states, is a net moocher off of the federal government, unlike NY PA and CA which are net payers.
Sorry your sister hurt you so badly.