Vegas Golden Knights fans know Noah Hanifin as Jack Eichel's Boston buddy. The two Olympians go way back to their amateur days, where they played against each other. They also duked it out in college, with Hanifin representing Boston College and Eichel representing Boston University.
So it makes perfect sense that the two Boston boys would play together on Team USA. The buddies need to carve out another chapter of their friendship and pursue Olympic gold in Milan. Of course, it won't be easy for the two best friends to take on this tough endeavor.
You see, they got Canadian (and Swedish, Czech & Swiss!) teammates that are also vying for that gold medal. Man, imagine facing the likes of Tomas Hertl, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner to get that place atop the podium. The two buddies have a big challenge ahead in Italy.
So, how can Hanifin do his part and help Team USA establish its hegemonic dominance? Well, there are plenty of solid attributes that the giant blue liner brings to the table. Heck, he might even call upon Eichel to help him take out the bad guys. Let's look at the Boston College alum and see what he can do for the Americans.
How Noah Hanifin can help Team USA win Olympic gold
This season, Hanifin has continued his point-scoring ways as a puck-moving defenseman. The Olympian has two goals and 18 assists in 45 games, with six assists coming on the power play. You can tell that he's versatile in any situation just by looking at his stats.
He adds a goal-scoring touch to his game with 74 career goals. The Boston native has 15 career goals on the power play, making him dangerous as a shooter on special teams. However, that's not the only thing that he can do.
Player | Blocked Shots (With Golden Knights) | Hits (With Golden Knights) | Takeaways (With Golden Knights) |
|---|---|---|---|
Noah Hanifin | 213 | 89 | 77 |
One thing that sticks out is the blocked shot stat. Hanifin uses his 6'3" frame to take away space in the defensive zone, clogging any shooting or passing lanes. That makes him a tough matchup, leaving his opponents to search for other areas to attack.
Mix in a growing hockey sense and solid skating ability and you have a player who can aid Team USA in many facets. The Golden Knights have prided themselves on solid two-way play, whether it's from the forward group or the blue line. Hanifin makes this mission possible, especially with his big frame.
It's why Golden Knights fans can't wait to see what Jack Eichel's best friend can do. They know that he's offensively capable and can even add some defensive structure. They also know that he can fly under the radar and help the Americans win a gold medal. Who knows? He might be known for more than just being Eichel's friend?