This move signals a strong commitment from the Golden Knights to keep Hanifin on board for the long haul, despite his not being the highest scorer among defensemen.
With an annual salary of $7.35 million, Hanifin will rank as the 25th highest paid defenseman in the NHL. The deal includes substantial signing bonuses and front-loaded payments. Hanifin was acquired by the Golden Knights from the Flames in a three-way trade, which involved giving up a first-round draft pick, a conditional third-round pick, and defenseman Danill Miromanov.
This contract adds an interesting dimension to Vegas' future cap management, aligning with the trend of teams investing heavily in top talent while balancing depth with lower-cost contracts.
Hanifin has made an immediate impact since joining the Golden Knights, showing improved offensive output with 2 goals and 9 points in his first 16 games. With this contract extension in place, the trade for Hanifin is shaping up to be a solid move for the team moving forward.
POLL | ||
Do you think this is a good deal for the Vegas Golden Knights? | ||
Yes | 11 | 52.4 % |
No | 10 | 47.6 % |
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