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The Toronto Maple Leafs could be undergoing a bit of an overhaul over the next few weeks, with a large number of free agents and a change in philosophy from Kyle Dubas to Brad Treliving. One area where Treliving may be looking to upgrade is the blueline, with only three defensemen (Morgan Rielly, Conor Timmins, and Jake McCabe) signed past next season.
Treliving made big moves in Calgary to bring in defensive help, most recently adding MacKenzie Weegar in the Matthew Tkachuk deal last July, but you can notice a trend of the type of defensemen Treliving likes based on the makeup of that unit with the Flames.
Flames goal! Great passing play finished off by Noah Hanifin!
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 5, 2023
Huge goal.
2-2 pic.twitter.com/x5kywy0h9A
The influence of former head coach Darryl Sutter cannot be ignored, but in the last three seasons Treliving added big blueliners Chris Tanev and Erik Gudbranson as free agents and Nikita Zadorov in a trade with Chicago. Gudbranson signed a multi-year deal with Columbus last summer, but Tanev and Zadorov are entering the final year of their contracts.
Is Scott Laughton on the move? All eyes on Noah Hanifin? 2024 #NHLDraft location? 🗺ï¸@FriedgeHNIC and @DavidAmber discuss what's going on behind the scenes in the NHL. 👇 pic.twitter.com/QgYoA4AN5e
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 11, 2023
The same can be said for 26-year-old Noah Hanifin, who was acquired by Treliving along with Elias Lindholm in 2018 for Micheal Ferlund, Dougie Hamilton and the rights to Adam Fox. Hanifin, who was selected one pick after Mitch Marner in the 2015 Draft, makes $4.95 million next season and will hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, teams have begun to inquire whether Hanifin may be available. Obviously Treliving is familiar with him, but also would be aware of his feelings about re-signing with the Flames and the potential of his interest in signing an extension elsewhere.
Based on the competitive market for defensive help and the recognition that adding size on the blueline like Vegas, Florida, Dallas, and Carolina have, Toronto having interest in Hanifin or the other short-term Flames blueliners would make sense.
For Hanifin specifically though, a deal involving the Leafs would necessitate an extension similar to what the Columbus Blue Jackets gave Damon Severson, in the neighborhood of $6 million per season on a long-term deal.
With Jake Muzzin’s final year likely headed to LTIR, and Matt Murray likely heading for a buyout, Treliving may have the cap space to add a significant defenseman either as a free agent or in a trade. Hanifin could be an attractive target, if he does not want to re-sign in Calgary.
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