Noah Hanifin

Hanifin's offense has gone down the drain over the past two seasons, as he's managed just 37 points in his last 117 games. For comparison's sake, he posted 33 points in 80 contests with the Flames back in 2018-19. Hanifin's power-play ice time dropped to a career-low 46 seconds per night in 2020-21, and he once again finished as a minus player (minus-2 rating) for the fifth time in his first six NHL campaigns. To make matters worse, Hanifin missed Calgary's final nine games with a shoulder injury which eventually required surgery, leaving his availability for the start of 2021-22 in question. Fantasy managers would be wise to let someone else deal with Hanifin's unpredictable production this year.

Hanifin produced 22 points, 82 hits, 89 blocked shots and 132 shots on goal in 70 games last season. His scoring output was his worst since he was a rookie, although the NHL's shortened season likely played a factor in that. The fifth overall pick from 2015, Hanifin is an established blueliner who may be in line to see true top-pairing usage in the upcoming season if the Flames try to manage Mark Giordano's minutes. Hanifin is usually good for 25 to 35 points as well as reasonable totals in hits and blocked shots. Fantasy managers may be hesitant since he's only finished positive in plus-minus once during his five-year career, but he should be a decent option in deeper formats that don't count that category.

Hanifin, 22, enters his fifth season coming off a 33-point, plus-18 campaign in what was his first year with the Flames. That line included a career-high 28 helpers. He found instant chemistry with Travis Hamonic on Calgary's second pairing, forming one of the most consistent units on the team throughout the season. The American blueliner also saw a career high in ice time, logging over 20 minutes per game on a nightly basis. Hanifin should be good for at least 30 points, 80-plus hits and 70-plus blocked shots this year, but his lack of power-play time (just 1:06 per game last season) will continue to limit his usefulness in the fantasy game.

Hanifin joins the Flames for the 2018-19 season following the trade in June that sent him and Elias Lindholm from Carolina in exchange for Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and prospect Adam Fox. With the Hurricanes, Hanifin was progressing nicely after three seasons, and he even earned an All-Star nod last year en route to registering a career-high 32 points in 79 games. However, the Canes were looking for a little more scoring punch from the blue line, and with top shutdown pair Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin firmly in place, not to mention rookie Haydn Fleury quickly ascending the ranks, the team clearly felt Hanifin was expendable. The 21-year-old blueliner will immediately slot into a top-four role on the Flames' blue line that includes Mark Giordano, Michael Stone and Travis Hamonic.

Hanifin continued to make progress in his second year as an NHL regular, improving on his rookie stat line with an impressive 29 points in 81 games. He saw roughly 18 minutes of ice time on average in a top-four role for the Hurricanes last season and was a fixture on the team’s second power-play unit (2:02 per game). The only real issue was his his team-worst minus-19 rating which, compared to fellow blueliners Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce (each at plus-23), suggests that Hanifin still has to improve his defensive-zone play. That said, the best is certainly yet to come for the improving 20-year-old rearguard.

The No. 5 overall pick in last year's draft, Hanifin was one of three rookie blueliners who were everyday players for the Canes last season, joining Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce. In fact, Hanifin wound up playing the third-most minutes (1,414) of all the Canes’ defensemen last season, behind only Ron Hainsey and Justin Faulk. He also chipped in nicely on offense, registering 22 points (four goals, 18 assists), including seven points on the power play, where he averaged a respectable 2:22 per night. Not bad for a 19-year-old rookie who was expected to open the season at AHL Charlotte, but instead managed to bypass the minors altogether and play in all but three games for the big club. He may be held back by a mediocre supporting cast, but that won't stop him from getting better. Expect a slow, steady improvement in Hanifin's numbers as he continues his development into a top-four NHL blueliner.

Selected by the Hurricanes with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Hanifin is a reliable two-way defenseman who is a very strong skater. The 18-year-old knows how to move the puck up the ice and has an incredibly high hockey IQ. While the youngster is both a promising and versatile talent, it’s unclear if he’s ready to play at the NHL level. After forgoing his remaining college eligibility and turning pro, Hanifin will at least receive the opportunity during training camp to audition for a spot on the Carolina blue line, where the 6-foot-3, 204-pounder would add to an interesting young corps that includes rising star Justin Faulk and potential stud Ryan Murphy. It's more likely though that Hanifin sees time with AHL Charlotte at least initially, even after producing a stellar 23-point season with Boston College as a 17-year-old freshman. While he may not quite be ready to make a notable impact at the highest level of the professional ranks, as a two-way defenseman oozing with upside, Hanifin should be on your fantasy radar in the coming years.