4 Trades the Bruins Must Make to Become Stanley Cup Favorites at the Deadline
By Ryan Bunton
2. Noah Hanifin, D, Calgary Flames
Long considered a dream trade acquisition for the Bruins, the Norwood, Mass. native and Boston College product is one of the hottest names on the NHL trade rumor mill right now. Still 27 years old and a former fifth overall pick, Hanifin possesses a ton of upside that Calgary will be sure to cash in on if he is moved.
In 58 games for the Flames this season, Hanifin has collected 11 goals and 22 assists while skating 23:45 per night. That average time on ice would put him behind only Charlie McAvoy amongst skaters. Hanifin could step in and immediately be a first or second pair defenseman.
Currently out of a playoff spot, Calgary has already begun their fire sale. The Flames traded Nikita Zadorov on Nov. 30 and Elias Lindholm on Jan. 31, both to the Vancouver Canucks. In addition to Hanifin, defenseman Christopher Tanev is a likely candidate to be moved as well.
If Hanifin is genuinely interested in joining the Bruins, the front office would at least have to consider passing on him this deadline and then pursuing him in free agency, when they wouldn't have to sacrifice capital and will have $26.8 million in cap space. With little trade assets in-house, Boston might be forced to prioritize the center position over a defenseman at the deadline. The Bruins aren't short on bodies within their D corps, but they are with top-six forwards. Those are the only reasons holding Hanifin back from the number one spot on this list.