Surprise Team In East Linked To Hanifin

Noah Hanifin is one of the biggest names available at the trade deadline this season, and since the Calgary Flames have already traded all of their other players who were set to be free agents, he is the last piece. There have been many teams who have been connected to Hanifin and the pending UFA is bound to be moved, with or without a new contract in the next couple of days.

There is a lot of speculation as to where he will end up, but from Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts, there is a surprise team we could potentially see Hanifin head to, and that's the Washington Capitals. General manager Brian MacLellan met with the media and said, "we're looking for opportunities to find more young players."

Friedman thinks this could entail making a run at Hanifin if a contract can also be signed in the process. This would solidify their defense and add another nice piece while the Capitals are in transition. It may help the team climb into a playoff spot, but the move would be made to help the team in the long run. It is tough to find mature young players like Hanifin is, especially for a team that doesn't want to be done competing just yet.

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