Noah Hanifin liked what he saw. Acquired at the trade deadline to bolster the Vegas Golden Knights’ blue line, he signed an eight-year extension Thursday worth an average of $7.35 million per year.
Hanifin, 27, has two goals and seven assists in 16 games with the Knights. He was acquired from the Flames on March 6, and this season he has 44 points in 77 games, four points shy of his career high set two years ago.
Hanifin made a smooth transition by immediately being placed on the Knights’ top defensive pairing.
Defensive brilliance was a big reason the Knights won the Stanley Cup last year, but injuries, illness and lack of consistency have created more uncertainty this season. This contract extension offered to Hanifin could be a sign that things will change this summer on the Knights blue line.
As usual, the Knights were active before the trade deadline, also adding Tomas Hertl from the San Jose Sharks and Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals.
Vegas has four games remaining this season, all at home. The Knights, who are on a three-game losing streak heading into Friday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, occupy the final playoff spot in the West.