HANIFIN HARBOURS NO HARD FEELINGS TOWARD CALGARY
Despite his decision to move on, `I really enjoyed my time' with the Flames
Noah Hanifin wore a Calgary Flames jersey long enough that he knows full well what tends to happen at the Saddledome when players return after deciding to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
He was there when Johnny Gaudreau got booed. Same with Matthew Tkachuk. Nikita Zadorov, too.
Not every player gets that treatment and almost all of them get an appreciative round of applause when the Flames play a video tribute for them.
But there are often lots of boos and Hanifin, now playing with the Vegas Golden Knights, had to know he was in for the same treatment later on Thursday evening when he spoke with the Calgary media on Thursday afternoon.
“Honestly, I'm not even trying to think about that too much, I'm just trying to focus on my play,” Hanifin said. “Can't be worried about the distractions during the game and stuff like that, just gotta go out and execute and perform.
“Whatever does happen, I know I had a great time in Calgary and I loved my time here and the people I met in the community and in the organization are the people that matter the most to me and that's really what I care about.”
There can be all sorts of debate about whether or not Hanifin should be booed.
The Flames tried to re-sign him as recently as the week before the NHL trade deadline, but the 27-year-old defenceman was ultimately set on going elsewhere.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were the rumoured destination, with persistent chatter that they were the only team he was interested in re-signing with. Who was the source of those rumours? It definitely wasn't the Flames.
But in the end, the Golden Knights swooped in and offered a 2026 first-round draft pick, a conditional third-round pick in 2025 and defenceman Daniil Miromanov.
It was enough to secure Hanifin's services.
If there are people who are unhappy with the way Hanifin left and the way the Lightning rumours may have scared off other suitors and prevented a bidding war that would have benefited the Flames, that's their prerogative.
But the counter-argument is Hanifin continued to play hard right until his final shift with the Flames and put in six solid seasons of work for the organization before he ultimately decided he wanted to continue his career elsewhere.
And he's only ever said good things about Calgary and the Flames.
“The people and the organization and the community, that's probably the piece I'll miss the most about moving on,” Hanifin said. “The relationships you make with people, your teammates, your trainers, management . ... Everybody I got to know over the last six years and had a huge impact on my life as a player and a person, I'm going to miss those people and even friends I have in the community, I met a lot of people away from hockey I'm going to miss seeing.
“That's something I'll definitely remember most.”
In time, Flames fans will surely remember the good times with Hanifin, too. His departure really wasn't all that acrimonious and feels like just a small piece of the slow dismantling of the squad that advanced out of the first round of the playoffs in 2022.
It's a little strange for both Hanifin and his former teammates that he'll be skating in Golden Knights colours on Thursday, just a week after he was traded by the Flames, but that's just a part of the business.
“He's a really good guy,” said Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson. “You could always joke around with him. We played together for so long (and) you become really good friends and I mentioned it before, it's always sad to see a person leave, first, and he's a really good player, as well.”
It will be weird for Hanifin, too. He's got other things to focus on now that's he joined a team that fancies its chances of repeating as Stanley Cup champions.
If he gets hit with a few boos on Thursday, so be it. Years from now, that won't be what he remembers about Calgary or the Flames.
“It was incredible. I was very lucky to be able to play here and live in the community here,” Hanifin said. “I played on some amazing teams and met a lot of great people here, I really enjoyed my time. I've said it in the past. I kind of grew up here. I came when I was 21 years old and I was here for a long time.”