Friedman: Coyotes interested in Hanifin

[Heldig]

Unfortunately for the Coyotes, they can be as interested as they want to be. The chances he signs a new contract in Arizona is about as bad as it gets.

This is going to be an issue for the Flames. Hanifin is going to have a big say in where he goes, as teams just won’t pay the price, unless they know he’s signing. If he wants to pull a Debrincat, he can. You just hope he has an open mind, as most players do, but he can force it, if he wants to.

While not a premiere choice (probably) why as bad as it gets? Young up and coming team with a boatload of assets and in need of a top pairing D seems like a good fit, no?

 

[Schemp]

While not a premiere choice (probably) why as bad as it gets? Young up and coming team with a boatload of assets and in need of a top pairing D seems like a good fit, no?

I think that is irrelevant because he probably wants to sign with the Bruins, and if a deal can't be worked out, then probably in the Metro then.

 

[Jakey53]

You completely missed the point.

Hayton is a good linemate for Keller / Schmaltz because that line (which by the way includes Keller / Schmaltz) is much better with him than without him. Yes, it would be nice to have someone like Sid or MacKinnon or even Bedard, but instead we have Cooley who still inarguably projects to be a top center. When you add actual wingers to Cooley (like But and whoever else becomes good, maybe Guenther or Maccelli or whoever develops), then that will make two scoring lines.

And yes, Hayton in his current deployment is similar to Huberdeau as he was deployed in Florida because their impact is greater there than it would be in most other situations.

Put a different way, Hayton's primary value to AZ is in helping Keller / Schmaltz play 10-20% better, which he's consistently been able to do as their center dating back to last year. I am not claiming he is actually a good player if you separate him from Keller / Schmaltz, quite the opposite actually (ie Huberdeau in Calgary)

We agree to disagree.

 

[Jakey53]

Hanafin is a long shot. I'd argue we are looking at him, but not for a more immediate trade. If we're better than expected come the TDL, maybe, with an extension in place.

Jenik and Soderstrom are probably the most available prospects as they weren't BA selections. I'm not above moving Guenther, he was a 9th overall who's still progressing nicely, but I'm moving him in a 1 for 1, adding to him is a good way to get burned.

So assuming we're in a playoff spot at the TDL, '24 1st (top 12 protected), '25 2nd, '25 2nd, maybe Jenik or Soderstrom. This assumes an extension. Does this works for both fan bases?

Why would you even entertain the thought of trading Guenther at this time? He is young and as of now, leading Tucson in pts. He is developing quite nicely the way it looks. I also wouldn't trade any of our first round picks we have. We are still rebuilding.

 

[Heldig]

I think that is irrelevant because he probably wants to sign with the Bruins, and if a deal can't be worked out, then probably in the Metro then.

OK, that is fair. I too suspect he is eyeing Boston.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Arizona's just now stacking up a decent group of young prospects... Why the hell would they grab Hanifin?

 

[StreetHawk]

While not a premiere choice (probably) why as bad as it gets? Young up and coming team with a boatload of assets and in need of a top pairing D seems like a good fit, no?

Hanifin is from the Northeast USA. Played in Carolina for his ELC, then in Calgary. He has no ties to AZ. Barring an over the market contract (since AZ still has a ways to go before they can win), not sure I see a strong reason for him to sign in AZ given that he would have several other options available to him where he has a chance to compete immediately. I figure he and Lindholm sign a new deal to the team they get traded to pretty quickly once the deal is announced. Tanev and Zadorov are more rentals.

 

[madmike77]

The Calgary guys ain’t going anywhere until closer to the deadline. I’m just having a hard time seeing what the direction is. You have Weegar/Huby/Kadri signed long term, you’re not winning anything with the group you have now. You have the team avoiding extension talks with everyone… it’s a mess

It’s clear it’s rebuild time. Those long-term guys are stuck here, but they’re not good enough to lead a winner. So you sell everything else, use them to keep you near the floor and rebuild with younger guys. It will be a bad 4-5 years. But on the plus side, the team should be decent by the time the new arena is finished.

You can bet Edwards wants that new arena as full as possible because the margins for him are way better than they are on the current arena.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Arizona's just now stacking up a decent group of young prospects... Why the hell would they grab Hanifin?

Because he’s a 26 year old top pair defencemen who will be a top pair guy for another decade?

There are about ten D in the league that are both better and younger than Hanifin. Who would want that? Yuck

 

[biturbo19]

Certainly interesting for Arizona to potentially be in on Hanifin. Only way i could see them doing that, is if for some reason...they think they have a genuine shot at getting him signed long-term to an extension. But what in the current situation would indicate that's a likelihood? Are they just looking at it as the opportunity to hand him more money than anyone else because of their advantageous cap situation? Do they think he's the sort of player who would appreciate the lesser pressures of playing hockey in Arizona in a college rink? Really banking on being an "up and coming young team"?

Very curious development. Even if the fit from the Coyotes end is otherwise pretty obvious. Looking for a Chychrun replacement and needed to put some significant pieces in place on defence in the coming years of their turnaround phase of the "rebuild". But i can't imagine they'd even kick tires all that seriously, if they didn't have some reasons to believe they have some sort of inside track or very solid shot at getting him extended.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Would you do Tanev for the Oilers first+ if it's not protected?

I mean we probably want to use that 1st on a goalie upgrade, but just spitballing hypotheticals here.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Because he’s a 26 year old top pair defencemen who will be a top pair guy for another decade?

There are about ten D in the league that are both better and younger than Hanifin. Who would want that? Yuck

The Coyotes are not likely competitive until after Hanifin is 30, and outside the elite of the elite, players generally aren't still playing at "Top pairing defensemen" level at 37.

There is undoubtedly a trade market for Hanifin. You don't need to prop up a flimsy argument for Arizona as the fit to fantasize about a good return lol.

 

[HighLifeMan]

The Coyotes are not likely competitive until after Hanifin is 30, and outside the elite of the elite, players generally aren't still playing at "Top pairing defensemen" level at 37.

There is undoubtedly a trade market for Hanifin. You don't need to prop up a flimsy argument for Arizona as the fit to fantasize about a good return lol.

In that case - what's the point of having Clayton Keller signed long term then? Hanifin is only a year older than he is.

Hanifin fit's the Coyotes window tremendously well.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

In that case - what's the point of having Clayton Keller signed long term then? Hanifin is only a year older than he is.

Hanifin fit's the Coyotes window tremendously well.

There's a massive difference between retaining players you already own who are on the edge of your age group, and moving multiple picks and prospects for a player on the edge of your age group, when you're still in the stage of accumulating picks and prospects.

One is "Free". The other isn't.

 

[YP44]

Arizona's just now stacking up a decent group of young prospects... Why the hell would they grab Hanifin?

low purchase price for a legit top 4 D who is still fairly young. All depends on cost though

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

The Coyotes are not likely competitive until after Hanifin is 30, and outside the elite of the elite, players generally aren't still playing at "Top pairing defensemen" level at 37.

There is undoubtedly a trade market for Hanifin. You don't need to prop up a flimsy argument for Arizona as the fit to fantasize about a good return lol.

So Arizona should just sell Keller then? He will be entering the final year of his contract when Hanifin turns 30.

I really think you are way off the ball here. Arizona has a lot of young talent surrounded by some solid 25-27 year olds players with term like Keller and Schmaltz. What they really lack is defense and you can't expect to get that through the draft at this point. Trading for a player like Hanifin expedites the quality of their d-core by 4-5 years. If they plan to enter contention before Keller and Schmaltz's deals end this is the kind of move you look at.

I am not saying it will happen but I would certainly not discount it as something absurd

There's a massive difference between retaining players you already own who are on the edge of your age group, and moving multiple picks and prospects for a player on the edge of your age group, when you're still in the stage of accumulating picks and prospects.

One is "Free". The other isn't.

They are certainly moving past the stage of accumulating picks and prospects. The team is absolutely on the upswing

 

[YP44]

Would you do Tanev for the Oilers first+ if it's not protected?

I mean we probably want to use that 1st on a goalie upgrade, but just spitballing hypotheticals here.

as a fan of neither Albertan team, btu a resident I would love this deal. Flames fans already route against Edmonton, imagine if they had their first?

You know what, the league should mandate that rival clubs (each team would be designated one and it would be re-evaluated on a 4 year basis) have to swap first round picks. Pure carnage.

There's a massive difference between retaining players you already own who are on the edge of your age group, and moving multiple picks and prospects for a player on the edge of your age group, when you're still in the stage of accumulating picks and prospects.

One is "Free". The other isn't.

Given the amount of picks in the top 2 rounds of the next two drafts the Coyotes have they could easily flip some picks for some players that fit their window. I think there is a sound argument for hanifan and the yotes.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

So Arizona should just sell Keller then? He will be entering the final year of his contract when Hanifin turns 30.

I really think you are way off the ball here. Arizona has a lot of young talent surrounded by some solid 25-27 year olds players with term like Keller and Schmaltz. What they really lack is defense and you can't expect to get that through the draft at this point. Trading for a player like Hanifin expedites the quality of their d-core by 4-5 years. If they plan to enter contention before Keller and Schmaltz's deals end this is the kind of move you look at.

I am not saying it will happen but I would certainly not discount it as something absurd


They are certainly moving past the stage of accumulating picks and prospects. The team is absolutely on the upswing

as a fan of neither Albertan team, btu a resident I would love this deal. Flames fans already route against Edmonton, imagine if they had their first?

You know what, the league should mandate that rival clubs (each team would be designated one and it would be re-evaluated on a 4 year basis) have to swap first round picks. Pure carnage.


Given the amount of picks in the top 2 rounds of the next two drafts the Coyotes have they could easily flip some picks for some players that fit their window. I think there is a sound argument for hanifan and the yotes.

Should they sell Keller? That's up to them. They could get an absolute haul for him if they did. They could go either way and be justified as long as they get market value.

Their high end prospects are still extremely young and probably 3-4 years from seriously making noise in the league.

This is the kind of move that lands you in the Ottawa/Debrincat situation... Except Ottawa accumulated way more young assets than Arizona had at that point, and those guys were further along in their development.

 

[Schemp]

There's a massive difference between retaining players you already own who are on the edge of your age group, and moving multiple picks and prospects for a player on the edge of your age group, when you're still in the stage of accumulating picks and prospects.

One is "Free". The other isn't.

You are forgetting how many contracts they have and how many prospects they will need to get under contract. In short they have too many draft picks and prospects still needing to sign. 1 of the reasons they spent 1sts on 2 russians last draft is that they don't have to sign them in 2 years. They could easily afford both Hanifin and Zadorov and improve their blue line tremendously.

 

[Heldig]

Hanifin is from the Northeast USA. Played in Carolina for his ELC, then in Calgary. He has no ties to AZ. Barring an over the market contract (since AZ still has a ways to go before they can win), not sure I see a strong reason for him to sign in AZ given that he would have several other options available to him where he has a chance to compete immediately. I figure he and Lindholm sign a new deal to the team they get traded to pretty quickly once the deal is announced. Tanev and Zadorov are more rentals.

I get all that.

I think HF folks are so used to crapping on the Coyotes that maybe they are not seeing the potential for the team to be really good soon. Plus, by almost all accounts, players love living there.

For sure not a top destination but maybe not a bottom10 anymore either.

 

[StreetHawk]

I get all that.

I think HF folks are so used to crapping on the Coyotes that maybe they are not seeing the potential for the team to be really good soon. Plus, by almost all accounts, players love living there.

For sure not a top destination but maybe not a bottom10 anymore either.

If AZ ever got an arena figured out, they'd be a destination market with the weather and being able to go about their days without much fanfare. But a new arena is a ways out. 2 years to build and a year for zoning/city approvals when anything is announced if they ever figure it out.

 

[Schemp]

If AZ ever got an arena figured out, they'd be a destination market with the weather and being able to go about their days without much fanfare. But a new arena is a ways out. 2 years to build and a year for zoning/city approvals when anything is announced if they ever figure it out.

It's the fans that are obsessing over the arena, not the players. They already have their seats. The players care more about the quality of ice, the locker rooms, and management/coaching staff than the seating capacity.

 

[StreetHawk]

It's the fans that are obsessing over the arena, not the players. They already have their seats. The players care more about the quality of ice, the locker rooms, and management/coaching staff than the seating capacity.

Arena would mean revenue for the owner to spend to the cap ceiling and push to win.

 

[YotesFan47]

Why would you even entertain the thought of trading Guenther at this time? He is young and as of now, leading Tucson in pts. He is developing quite nicely the way it looks. I also wouldn't trade any of our first round picks we have. We are still rebuilding.

It's a balance between the future and the now. If come the TDL the team is in a pretty firm playoff spot (not unthinkable given our current position), improving the product to do some damage isn't the worst idea, especially if that improvemt comes from a top 4 defenseman on a reasonable contract. If Hanafin wants $10m, we'd obviously have no interest, but if he wants $7-$8.5m, we should be discussing our options. Guenther is not without his own risks either, and as the conversation includes, this would be a 1 for 1 deal.

As you hopefully noted, i joked how I'm likely one of the few Coyotes fans that would even entertain such as deal. I also mention that we'd be moving a player from a position of strength for a position of weakness.

Lastly, and you can thank my father for this line, if I had wanted your opinion, I'd have given it to you.

 

[Schemp]

Arena would mean revenue for the owner to spend to the cap ceiling and push to win.

As long as Meruelo has his construction company building a new arena in Reno and his 2 casinos, revenue is not a problem for him. It's only a problem to the rest of the NHL with revenue sharing.