Hanifin makes the defensive group much deeper
Acquiring Tomas Hertl gave the Golden Knights unrivaled strength down the middle. With a group consisting of Jack Eichel, Hertl, William Karlsson, and Nicolas Roy, the team could provide ample scoring for any line. The same can be said for the defenseman group, where adding Hanifin makes the group much better. He's already looking good during training camp, making countless drills look easy.
This isn’t breaking news to anyone, but Noah Hanifin is freaking awesome.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) September 20, 2024
He’s just dominating these 1-on-1 drills in camp today, making it look easy.
If the Boston native does play with Nicolas Hague as he has during the preseason, it'll provide a bit of balance within the pairing. The former Flames star is more offensively focused, relying on setting up plays and acting as a wingman. Hague is a bigger player who can dish out hip checks and obstruct the attack, turning him into an imposing figure. If Hanifin gets more involved defensively, he can make the unit much tougher.
Acquiring a big-name blue-liner isn't something the Vegas Golden Knights are unfamiliar with. They signed Alex Pietrangelo in 2020, giving them an elite defender who was complimentary on offense. While Noah Hanifin might not be the top-notch defensive player Pietrangelo is, he does provide the same offensive production, if not, more. That's what Vegas desires as he plays his first full season in his new home.