I'm a fan of trading Hanifin if the return is good and the player is a true top line player or a top 6 forward who is young and more cost controlled with upside.
But if we can't get a good piece back I'm a fan of keeping him this season.
With the 6 d we have now I see so many pairings that could work very well for this team. Sutter can mix and match to find pairings that have good chemistry and really this team could have 3 pairings that are all pairings you can trust on the ice against most match ups.
The issue I have with our D is outside of Weegar, I just don't see a true #1 guy. Weegar is still a maybe too as I'm hopeful that he will be but at this point I don't see Hanifin, Andersson or Tanev being anything but good #2 or #3's.
Rasmus and Tanev for the next 2 to 4 years are being paid like #2 or even like a good #3 gets paid. Tanev won't command a raise but he might need to be replaced in 2 years. Rasmus is locked up for 4 years.
Hanifin might be getting #1 money in 2 years but not really be a #1. I'm fine to wait til next summer and try to re-sign him and if it doesn't go well trade him but I think people are dreaming if we can keep him in 2 years at less than $8 mil per year.
Once again, I'm ok to keep him but if you can get a more cost controlled player for less money it does make sense to move him.
Weegar probably gets $7 mil or so in this more restricted cap world and also due to his age. Weegar is a better player IMO and can be wrapped up hopefully for $7 mil or even a bit less.
If you could add a Jason Robertson for Hanifin and signed him for much less now than Hanifin commands in 2 years that could be a huge win for the Flames. Barzal was another player mentioned. Still like the move even if it hurts the d a bit this year as I still think Kylington has a bit more growth potential even though they are the same age just due to way less experience in the league for OK.
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