HANIFIN TALKS HEATING UP
Things seem to have also picked up steam on the Hanifin front over the last 15 hours or so, with the Tampa Bay Lightning still the preferred destination.
This move certainly appears to be complicated, though, as it will likely include a contract extension. But agreeing to a new deal isn’t simple, as adding around $6 million to $6.5 million on Tampa’s cap next season takes away from their ability to get captain Steven Stamkos inked to a new deal – unless someone comes off the roster.
The Lightning have $10,647,500 in cap space in 2024-25, as par our friends at CapFriendly. Stamkos isn’t signing for $4 million on his next deal.
There was unconfirmed chatter this week the Flames expressed interest in centre Anthony Cirelli, who has a $6.25 million salary cap hit. While that would eliminate any cap issues moving forward, I am not sure how much of an appetite the Bolts have in moving him.
Several teams have poked around on Hanifin, including the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, and the longer this goes without a trade to Tampa, the more the competition will to pry him away.
Both Florida and Detroit seem open to contract extensions, as well. I wonder about Lundell here, too, while I am not sure what package the Red Wings could piece together, though Jonatan Berggren is a player the Flames like – but it would take quite a bit more.
MTL always trying to acquire a top 6 C is never not gonna be funny
