Some Vegas Golden Knights fans were worried that Tomas Hertl would be the team albatross in the future. The forward is due $6.75 million until 2030 and has a no-movement clause in the 2024-25 season. He would be a fossil once his contract expired, leaving the Golden Knights to figure out what to do with the money.
But that's not the case now. Hertl scored eight goals and 10 assists to start the season, including six goals and four assists on the power play. He's leading the fifth-best unit in the NHL (27.4%). However, the other trade deadline acquisition in March might be more concerning.
Noah Hanifin has been on the ice for 12 of the 16 goals the Golden Knights have given up over their last five games.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) December 1, 2024
This came during Saturday's blowout loss to the Utah Hockey Club. It raises alarming concerns about Noah Hanifin's defensive game. Yes, we're only past the quarter mark in the NHL season, meaning there's a long way to go. There have also been moments where the defenseman has shined in stretches.
Bruce Cassidy talked about the season being long in Saturday's press conference, stating that 25 games is only a sample size. One game will look like a speck in the grand scheme compared to the other 81 games, specifically when the good times are rolling.
Does that apply to Hanifin? Should fans be worried about a defensive lapse that's causing the Golden Knights to surrender countless scoring opportunities? It could be the answer to unlocking the issues behind the team's blue line issues defensively. Let's dive into the numbers and see what's happening with the trade deadline acquisition.
Should there be some concern with Noah Hanifin's game?
Noah Hanifin signed an eight-year, $58.8 million contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights on April 12, 2024. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $7.35 million, making him notable on the books.
Currently, he has three goals and nine assists in 25 games, projecting out to be 10 goals and 30 assists. Those aren't bad numbers, specifically as a complementary piece offensively. However, concerns about his defensive game do exist.
For example, he only has nine takeaways and 34 giveaways this season. He's not doing enough forechecking, causing the "12 of 16 goals in five games" statistic to pop up. If you can't create turnovers and take care of the puck, that's a problem, specifically when your takeaways are projected in the mid-30s.
He's also not hitting people, only amassing 15 hits this season. Another alarming statistic is the expected on-ice goal differential (according to MoneyPuck), which stands at -6.9. His actual goal differential? -8. That indicates he's underperforming as a blue-liner, which has hindered the team defensively.
Why this problem is overblown
While Hanifin hasn't been the best player on the ice, there are reasons why it's not entirely his fault. First, the Golden Knights are missing Alec Martinez, the quintessential shot-blocker (677 blocked shots in five seasons with the Golden Knights). The Michigan native has 31 blocked shots in 11 games with his new team, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Not having that defensive-minded player to block shots has hurt the Golden Knights. It's tough going back to that defensive identity when you're solely relying on players like Brayden McNabb and Alex Pietrangelo. They can't be the only blue-liners who get the job done.
Also, Bruce Cassidy brought up a valuable point at Saturday's press conference. It's a long season, meaning there's plenty of time to right the ship. Sure, the defense doesn't look good right now. However, there's still plenty of time to figure out matters. That's what happened to the penalty kill prior to Saturday's game.
Overreactions are a part of the sports lexicon, where people panic over the smallest details. It's part of being in a civilized nation (i.e., "first-world problems"), after all. Hanifin isn't going to be the best defensive player, anyways. His calling card is complimenting the attack, creating juicy scoring opportunities.