Golden Knights make another trade, add Calgary defenseman

The Golden Knights bolstered their blue line by acquiring standout defenseman Noah Hanifin from Calgary, the team announced Wednesday night.

The Knights gave the Flames a 2025 conditional first-round pick, a 2025 conditional third-round pick and defenseman Daniil Miromanov in the deal. Calgary is also retaining half of Hanifin’s $4.95 million salary-cap hit. The Knights sent Philadelphia a 2024 fifth-round pick as well to take on an additional $1.24 million of Hanifin’s cost.

The first-round pick the Knights gave up will transfer to 2026 if they trade their 2025 first-round pick by Sunday or if their 2025 first-round pick ends up being a top-10 selection. The third-round pick they sent will become a second rounder if they win a playoff round this year.

Hanifin, 27, was considered the top defenseman available before Friday’s NHL trade deadline. He has a career-high 11 goals in 61 games this season, as well as 35 points. He has 274 points in 659 NHL games.

Miromanov, 26, had seven points in 29 games with the Knights over three seasons. Miromanov signed a two-year extension with Calgary on Wednesday, his agent Dan Milstein wrote on X.

The Flames hoped to sign Hanifin, a pending free agent, to a long-term deal this season. Talks broke down, so Calgary decided to find a trade partner instead.

He should boost a blue line that received a blow Wednesday. Veteran Alec Martinez was also put on injured reserve Wednesday with a lower-body injury.

Martinez, 36, must miss a minimum of seven days after going on IR.

“I’d say for now, we’ll leave it at a week until I get more information and go from there,” coach Bruce Cassidy said when asked about how much time Martinez could miss.

The injury could explain a recent dip in form for the three-time Stanley Cup champion. Martinez posted a minus-2 rating in the Knights’ loss to Columbus on Monday and was moved from the first pair to the third.

Where Hanifin slots in the team’s lineup remains to be seen.

Ben Hutton took Martinez’s usual spot next to defenseman Alex Pietrangelo at Wednesday’s practice at City National Arena.

Hutton has not played since Dec. 28 because of an upper-body injury, but he has been healthy for several weeks. He’s been waiting for an opportunity. This one may be short depending on when Hanifin shows up.

“I’m ready whenever they call my number,” Hutton said Wednesday. “That’s always been my mentality.”

Hanifin is the second major pickup the Knights have made ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.

The team grabbed right wing Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday for a second- and fourth-round draft pick.

The Knights might not be done. The salary Calgary and Philadelphia retained in the Hanifin trade still gives them some financial flexibility to make another move.

Cassidy said Wednesday morning the Knights’ aggression sends a strong message to the locker room. The team still believes it can repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

“What it does, a lot of these things give your team a bump,” Cassidy said. “They’re going to say, ‘Management believes.’ We’re bringing in players, giving up stuff in the future, for the now. They’re looking at it like, ‘They believe is us. They’re trying to make us better.’ ”

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.