[Huntingwhale]

I have no hard feelings towards Noah given how things went. I will NEVER blame any person, let alone a 27 year old multi-millionaire, using their wealth and leverage to find a way to move to the city they want when given the opportunity. Let's not pretend Calgary is a world-class 5 star destination city that millions of people around the world are hustling to get to. Fans get so upset when people simply want to move away whether it be for the weather, family, pay raise, whatever. All of those are legitimate reasons to move away to another place and nobody can hold it against you. It's okay to accept that some people simply don't want to live here and want to find opportunity elsewhere. I know dozens of people like that, and likely many of you all know people like that who left on a whim for "greener pastures".

Hanifin could have sulked, pouted, sat out, whatever. Instead he went on an absolute tear since the moment trade rumors began and will be scoring himself a massive payday at the destination of his choosing on UFA day. Anybody who makes it known they want to leave, yet play themselves up to the next tier deserves respect for playing like that. This could have easily led to a Zadarov or Lindholm pout-n-cry scenario, but it was the complete opposite. As hockey fans, we should at least acknowledge Hanifin's level of play. Don't we always say it's the on-ice performance that matters?

I'm not really going to cheer for him wherever he ends up, neither will I boo him. Just...it is what it is. Dude made his intentions known to the GM, who managed to get a decent haul for him. Was it the blockbuster was all expected? No, but the most important thing is the UFA didn't walk for nothing. I will gladly take an unprotected 1st rounder, take it and run.