Flames defenceman doesn't want to play in Canada on next contract

Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has made numerous statements that he wants to change their defence and give it an overhaul. One player on his radar is current Flames defenceman Noah Hanifan, but according to a new report from Elliotte Friedman, the defenceman doesn't want to play in Canada on his next contract.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the 32 thoughts podcast and Sportsnet insider, he feels the Maple Leafs would love to land a player of his caliber as he would give their blue line a significant boost. But it appears that Hanifan has his eyes to the south whereas he is an unrestricted free agent after this season, he would prefer to go home to the United States.

To land a player like Hanifan, most teams would need reassurance that a contract extension would be moving forward to make a deal possible. But with the Leafs' limited draft capital and no desire to move players named Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten, it seems likely that the Leafs will be completely shut out unless something changes dramatically in Treliving's thinking.


No matter what happens, Flames rookie GM Craig Conroy will be the busiest GM in the NHL as this will be one of the most turbulent trade deadline days in their history.