NOAH HANIFIN - Defenseman - 22 - $4.95MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2024-2025
LAST UPDATED 6/29/19
While the Carolina Hurricanes may have made a mistake picking Hanifin over Ivan Provorov, Zach Werenski, Timo Meier, and Mikko Rantanen in the 2015 draft, that's not to say that Hanifin isn't a good young defenseman in his own right. He's natural with the puck and is an asset in transition, and brings major power play value. He's got a decent point shot, but his playmaking ability from the back end is really what makes him a good 30 point defenseman, and his age and skating abilities indicate that there is more untapped offensive upside for Hanifin. His defensive game is still improving, and he needs to learn to fight for pucks more consistently as well as limit the mistakes that come with his sometimes aggressive nature. He's got the size and smarts to have legitimate shutdown upside, but at 22 years old he's already had significant time to bulk up and become more physical and he simply has not taken that opportunity. That all being said, the upside is still there, and Hanifin is a #4 defenseman right now, with value as a power play defenseman and as a puck mover, but with definite defensive flaws. He has the upside to be a good #2 capable of anchoring a second pairing, he just needs to get stronger.
While the Carolina Hurricanes may have made a mistake picking Hanifin over Ivan Provorov, Zach Werenski, Timo Meier, and Mikko Rantanen in the 2015 draft, that's not to say that Hanifin isn't a good young defenseman in his own right. He's natural with the puck and is an asset in transition, and brings major power play value. He's got a decent point shot, but his playmaking ability from the back end is really what makes him a good 30 point defenseman, and his age and skating abilities indicate that there is more untapped offensive upside for Hanifin. His defensive game is still improving, and he needs to learn to fight for pucks more consistently as well as limit the mistakes that come with his sometimes aggressive nature. He's got the size and smarts to have legitimate shutdown upside, but at 22 years old he's already had significant time to bulk up and become more physical and he simply has not taken that opportunity. That all being said, the upside is still there, and Hanifin is a #4 defenseman right now, with value as a power play defenseman and as a puck mover, but with definite defensive flaws. He has the upside to be a good #2 capable of anchoring a second pairing, he just needs to get stronger.
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