No regrets for former Maple Leafs target Hanifin
Carolina defenceman, Toronto brass happy with how 2015 draft played out
When the Maple Leafs’ selection, the fourth overall, came around in the 2015 NHL draft and the third-rated player, defenceman Noah Hanifin, was still available, there was some internal quibbling.
Stud defencemen are hard to come by, and Hanifin fit that bill. But the debate ended when the Leafs took sleek forward Mitch Marner. Hanifin went to the Carolina Hurricanes with the next pick.
“He was a defenceman that could really skate, a big body, a real good player wherever he’d been,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “We met with him and his folks. Real good people. A confident kid. They got a real good player in him. Obviously we made the decision to go with Mitch. They like their guy, we like our guy.”
Marner spent last season dominating the junior ranks, while Hanifin spent the entire year in the NHL and is now in the second year of pro life.
“It was fun,” Hanifin said. “We have a better team (this year) than last year. It’s going well. It’s nice coming into camp, knowing what to expect.”
Hanifin’s visit to Toronto led to a reunion of sorts. He played with and against Leafs rookie Auston Matthews in youth hockey, from eight years of age, and he fondly remembers a youth tournament here that they won representing the Boston Junior Bruins. Hanifin also saw plenty of Marner over the years. They are all being counted on now to raise their teams to new levels.
“We’ve been good friends over the years,” Hanifin said of Matthews. “I’m happy to see he’s doing well.”
Matthews said dinner plans fell through this week.
“For sure it’s fun to play against guys you grew up playing youth hockey with and to go against them in the NHL is pretty special,” he said. “(Hanifin) is a very competitive person. His mindset is to win. Fun to play against.
“He’s just a man out there. He’s an unbelievable skater. He sees the ice. He’s very competitive. He’s physical. He hates to lose battles. Any time you have a guy like that on your team, it works in your favour.”
Hanifin doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about the 2015 draft and the Leafs’ decision to go with Marner.
“The draft is the beginning of everything,” Hanifin said. “After I got drafted, my focus was with Carolina and making that team. It’s all about working hard and helping the team you’re with.
“Mitch is a great player. I played with Mitch a lot too as a kid. He’s a hometown kid here, so it’s awesome to see he’s doing well.”
Marner said he paid attention to Hanifin’s rookie year.
“I knew how good a player he was,” Marner said. “He’s a real solid defenceman with a lot of skill.
“A lot of us grow with each other, playing against or with each other. It’s always fun to play against guys your own age.”