Hanifin and Flames closing in on a contract
Dan Rosen of NHL.com: The Calgary Flames are closing in on signing restricted free agent defenseman Noah Hanifin.
“It’s super close,” Hanifin said of his contract prior to playing in the Comm Ave Charity Classic at Boston University. “I want to be there and hopefully they want me to be there. My intentions are to be ready to go to camp soon. I’m excited and I can’t wait for it all to be settled.”
Flames GM Brad Treliving said in a text that a deal is getting close.
“Looking forward to getting it done soon,” Treliving wrote. “We’re very excited to have Noah.”
Flames have a history of doing long-term over bridge deals
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 960 and was asked if he believes the Calgary Flames and restricted free agent Noah Hanifin would be looking at a bridge or a long-term deal.
“Well, I think if you look at your general manager’s history, your general manager’s history is to do term, right,” began Friedman. “He likes term. I think that if you look at it, it’ll probably save you guys a lot of money. If you look at what Gaudreau signed for, look where we are now.”
Friedman guesses they will go with a long-term deal, and they will be paying for the potential of Hanifin like they did to some degree with Elias Lindholm.
“There aren’t a ton of numbers there. So I think that’s always a tougher one for a team to do.”
