NHL Trade Deadline: Prized defenseman Noah Hanifin ‘is headed to VEGAS after defending-champion Golden Knights reach deal with Flames ahead of Stanley Cup Playoff push’

The defending Stanley Cup champions are reportedly adding an All-Star defenseman ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline.

Calgary Flames blueliner Noah Hanifin is headed to the Vegas Golden Aces, who could offer the impending free agent a huge contract extension, according to multiple outlets.

The 27-year-old is currently in the final year of his six-year, $30 million contract and was expected to be among the highest-valued free agents this summer.

According to TSN’s Darren DregerVegas will send a first-round pick to Calgary (30-26-5), as well as defenseman Daniil Miromanov and a conditional third-round pick.

The Flames are trading Hanifin within the Pacific Division, but with Calgary unlikely to make the playoffs, team general manager Craig Conroy appears to have no problem sending a prized player to a rival.

The deal comes a day after the Knights acquired Anthony Mantha from the Capitals

The defending champion Golden Knights (33-22-7) have a firm hold on one of the Western Conference’s two wild-card spots.

At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, Hanifin is considered one of the NHL’s better defensemen. Not only has he been the league’s leading player in terms of penalty kill, but he is also regularly tasked with setting up against the opposition’s best scorers.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Vegas will send a first-round pick to Calgary (30-26-5), as well as defenseman Daniil Miromanov (pictured) and a conditional third-round pick

Hanifin has 35 points this season: 24 assists and 11 goals.

Re-signing him could prove difficult for Vegas, especially if the Bruins decide to take a shot at the Boston native this summer when they should have almost $50 million in cap space.

The deal comes one day after the Knights acquired Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals.

Vegas sent a 2024 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick to Washington for the soon-to-be free agent winger. The Capitals will keep half of Mantha’s salary.

Mantha just scored twenty goals in a season for the first time since 2019. He gives Vegas a valuable depth player as it tries to become its first repeat title winner since Pittsburgh in 2016 and ’17.

The 29-year-old was one of several likely trade candidates the Capitals need to move before Friday’s deadline. Fellow forwards Max Pacioretty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel and defenseman Joel Edmundson are also awaiting free agents who are expected to be traded, along with center Nic Dowd and goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who are signed through next season.

The Golden Knights may not be done dealing yet either, as they try to make another long playoff run. After placing captain Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve, they have more cap space to use on acquisitions.