Earlier tonight, the Calgary Flames traded their biggest piece of the year and sent defender Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights. There's expected to be a third team to broker double salary retention. Calgary will receive a first round pick and a conditional third in exchange for Hanifin.
The 27 year old Hanifin has spent his 659 game NHL career between the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames, and has become revered around the league for his two-way ability and his playoff-style of defending. As a big body at 6'3 and 210 pounds, Hanifin's frame will play extremely well in the playoffs for Vegas.
For Vegas, the team shows once again that they're never satisfied with their team and always trying to improve. The Knights have set themselves up perfectly by cheating the salary cap with Mark Stone routinely going on the LTIR until the playoffs, and they've kept enough assets and cap space to make elite additions in trade.
According to more reports from David Pagnotta, the Golden Knights aren't even done, and are expected to add at least another forward before the trade deadline passes.
Now acquiring both Anthony Mantha and Noah Hanifin in the last few days, the Vegas Golden Knights are merging as the biggest winners of the trade deadline, bringing in formidable additions to the reigning cup-champion roster already.