PuckSleuth
Noah Hanifin15

Vegas Golden Knights · Defense · Shoots L

Noah Hanifin

Age 29 · 6'3" · 206 lb · Born in Boston, USA

Cap hit

$7.35M

7.1% of $104M cap

Term

6 yrs

Through 2031-32, then UFA

Clause

NTC

Surplus value

−$926K

vs. $6.424M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

1

25.0% shooting

Assists

0

0 primary

Points

1

0.50 per game

TOI/GP

19:12

PP 0:03 · PK 1:35

Plus/minus

+1

Hits

0

Blocks 4

PIM

0

Game Score

+0.85

per game

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 2
vs ANA · L 4-3
0010219:330:051:08—80100+0.16
Sep 29
vs CHI · W 5-2
1030218:510:002:01—7500+1+1.55
Jun 14
vs CAR · L 3-0
0000216:330:001:46—3331-2-0.29
Jun 11
@ CAR · L 4-2
0010022:230:192:56—67400-0.16
Jun 9
vs CAR · L 5-3
0010320:200:001:52—5020+1+0.36

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,324 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%57.0%

93rd percentile

Relative xGF%+2.8

81st percentile

HDCF%63.0%

97th percentile

CF%53.9%

86th percentile

Relative CF%+2.0

77th percentile

FF%53.7%

86th percentile

GF%51.8%

64th percentile

CF/6061.0

79th percentile

CA/6052.2

86th percentile

ixG/600.25

66th percentile

Goals above expected-2.5

8th percentile

IPP33.9%

51st percentile

PDO98.6

28th percentile

OZS%61.5%

92nd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleSpeedy two-way defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Hanifin is a rare blend of elite speed and sound defense, consistently controlling play and limiting opponent chances. He shoots frequently from distance but is not an initiator in the offensive attack, working best as a stabilizing presence on the back end.

Elite speedDefensive reliabilityHigh volume shooter
Shooting volume
81
Playmaking
52
Zone entries(est.)
66
Forechecking
45
Physicality
32
Defensive impact
70
Puck management
47
Speed
95

Where he shoots from

Slot 8% · Mid-range 29% · Perimeter 62%(197 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • 95th percentile speed enables him to push the pace and recover defensively
  • 70th percentile defensive impact shows he consistently limits opponent chances
  • 81st percentile shooting volume means he contributes from the point without much playmaking

Watch-outs

  • 32nd percentile physicality means he avoids physical play and contact
  • 45th percentile forechecking suggests limited aggressive play in the offensive zone
  • 47th percentile puck management indicates he's not distributing the puck at an elite level

Similar style: Olen Zellweger (BUF), Hampus Lindholm (BOS)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAP+/-PIM
2010-11USHS-PrepSt. Sebastian's School27291100
2011-12T1EHLBos. Adv. U189112—5
2011-12High-MASt. Sebastian's2852429——
2012-13Minor-MACape Cod10123—19
2012-13High-MASt. Sebastian's28102434——
2013-14USHLUSNTDP3161420-218
2013-14U-17USNTDP2031720—16
2013-14U-18USNTDP8145—4
2013-14WJ18-AUSA7145+64
2014-15H-EastBoston College3751823—16
2014-15WJC-AUSA5022+30
2015-16NHLCarolina Hurricanes7941822-1422
2015-16WCUSA1012304
2016-17NHLCarolina Hurricanes8142529-1926
2016-17WCUSA8022+42
2017-18NHLCarolina Hurricanes79102232-2021
2018-19NHLCalgary Flames8052833+1812
2018-19WCUSA8134+100
2018-19 (playoffs)NHLCalgary Flames5011-34
2019-20NHLCalgary Flames7051722-1212
2019-20 (playoffs)NHLCalgary Flames10044+20
2020-21NHLCalgary Flames4741115-218
2021-22NHLCalgary Flames81103848+2719
2021-22 (playoffs)NHLCalgary Flames12033-114
2022-23NHLCalgary Flames8173138+233
2023-24NHLCalgary Flames61112435+1322
2023-24NHLVegas Golden Knights1921012+62
2023-24 (playoffs)NHLVegas Golden Knights7235-20
2024-25NHLVegas Golden Knights80102939+814
2024-254 NationsUnited States4000-24
2024-25 (playoffs)NHLVegas Golden Knights11145+12
2025-26NHLVegas Golden Knights7132528014
2025-26OGUSA6123+30
2025-26 (playoffs)NHLVegas Golden Knights22077+22
2026-27NHLVegas Golden Knights2101+10

Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

Average +0.29 per game over these 10.

Where his Game Score comes from

+0.46 per game

2025-26 · 71 GP

Season total +32.8, or +0.46 per game.

Scoring
+17.3
Shooting
+10.1
5-on-5 goals
+0.6
Defense
+2.0
Penalty kill
+0.5
Physical play
+6.5
Puck battles
-3.1
Penalties
-1.1

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
19.5 mph
47th pct
20+ mph bursts
0
Hardest shot
65.3 mph
11th pct
Distance
1.0 mi
OZ time
44.8%
79th pct
DZ time
38.0%

Usage

Last game: vs ANA, Oct 2

Pair 2 with Jeremy Lauzon (14:14 together at 5-on-5)

From the NHL's shift chart.

Age curve

At 29: 93% of peak

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 29, defensemen typically produce 93% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 34, when the typical level is 71%.

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Contract by season

6 seasons left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27VGK$7.35M7.1%
2027-28VGK$7.35M6.5%
2028-29VGK$7.35M—
2029-30VGK$7.35M—
2030-31VGK$7.35M—
2031-32VGK$7.35M—

UFA after 2031-32. NTC. $44.1M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).