Noah Hanifin
It seems every season we hear rumors that Noah Hanifin is available. He’s currently playing on the Calgary Flames second line, so he’s not as relied upon as he would be on the Devils. Pairing him with a guy like P.K. Subban might be exactly what they need to get the most out of him.
Hanifin is a defenseman that almost every Devils fan would be on board in getting. He already has 100 career assists despite only being 22 years old. He’s signed for four more seasons after the next one, so the Devils will have him price guaranteed for a long time. This is a no brainer move if Shero can make it.
That’s the problem, can Shero make it? How much is it going to cost to get a defenseman that’s only getting better? Shero is obviously not giving up this year’s 1st-round pick, but would he be willing to give up the 2021 pick? Would the Arizona pick plus an NHL player and top prospect be enough? Would they demand Ty Smith be added to the deal?
The other major issue here is the Flames could lose Brodie and Travis Hamonic this offseason. They can’t afford to lose another one. That is, unless the Devils make Damon Severson available in the deal. If the Devils re-sign Sami Vatanen, it makes sense to trade Severson. Obviously, the Devils would have to add more, but it makes the deal a lot more enticing.
This one is a long shot, but it’s also the most desirable option. Getting a player like Hanafin could make the Devils defense much closer to a strength than almost anyone else out there.