Flames may execute sign-and-trade with high-profile defenseman

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting that sources have told him that Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin could be dealt this season with an extension in place beyond this year. If a situation like that were to happen it would effectively be a sign-and-trade agreement between the Flames and an acquiring team as the team trading for Hanifin would be able to acquire the 26-year-old as a player under contract beyond this season.

Lebrun previously reported a few weeks ago that Hanifin and the Flames were close to agreeing to an extension back in October that would have been valued at roughly $60M over an eight-year term. However, the Flames pulled the deal after Hanifin opted to wait and see how the season developed.

The Flames have turned things around this season after stumbling early in the year and might be feeling less pressure to deal some of their pending unrestricted free agents as they are back in the thick of things. However, LeBrun points out that the Flames are unlikely to make a deep run in the playoffs should they get there and may opt to recoup some assets for a few of their upcoming free agents.

Hanifin is in his sixth year with Calgary after coming over in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes and has four goals and six assists in 22 games thus far. If he is to hit the open market there will be no shortage of teams looking to acquire the native of Boston, Massachusetts.

The Flames are one game into a six-game homestand that could dictate how they approach the rest of the season. If they struggle on home ice it may incentivize them to move some of their other pending free agents such as Chris Tanev, Elias Lindholm or Nikita Zadorov, who requested a trade just a few weeks ago.