Arguing about $500k or $1m seems so insignificant. The Flames are not a contender and whenever they potentially are that type of money won't even matter. If you actually want to sign Hanifin, 7 or 8 should make almost no difference.
Get the assets, the cap space, the flexibility. Hanifin is a good top 4 dman but he's a support player. His best years will be wasted and the only upside you get with signing him is hoping he's productive in his later years. Doesn't seem worth the risk. You can spend that money over the next 8 years in multiple ways that will be more beneficial and less risky.
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