PuckSleuth
15Cap 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
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 vs ANA · L 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19:33 | 0:05 | 1:08 | — | 80 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.16 |
| Sep 29 vs CHI · W 5-2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 18:51 | 0:00 | 2:01 | — | 75 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +1.55 |
| Jun 14 vs CAR · L 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16:33 | 0:00 | 1:46 | — | 33 | 3 | 1 | -2 | -0.29 |
| Jun 11 @ CAR · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22:23 | 0:19 | 2:56 | — | 67 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.16 |
| Jun 9 vs CAR · L 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 20:20 | 0:00 | 1:52 | — | 50 | 2 | 0 | +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
93rd percentile
81st percentile
97th percentile
86th percentile
77th percentile
86th percentile
64th percentile
79th percentile
86th percentile
66th percentile
8th percentile
51st percentile
28th percentile
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.
- 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
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | Calgary Flames | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.0 | 20:40 | — |
| 2019-20 | Calgary Flames | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | +2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0.0 | 18:50 | — |
| 2021-22 | Calgary Flames | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0.0 | 23:04 | — |
| 2023-24 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 16.7 | 23:43 | — |
| 2024-25 | Vegas Golden Knights | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | +1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3.8 | 23:03 | — |
| 2025-26 | Vegas Golden Knights | 22 | 0 | 7 | 7 | +2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0.0 | 23:04 | — |
| Career | 6 seasons | 67 | 3 | 22 | 25 | -11 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 2.3 | 22:19 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- After ending goal drought for Knights, Noah Hanifin’s confidence could rise
Las Vegas Review-Journal · Oct 2
- 🎥 MEDIA AVAILABILITY | Karlsson, Hanifin, Theodore & Craig | Vegas Golden Knights
NHL.com · Oct 1
- 🎥 MEDIA AVAILABILITY | Karlsson, Hanifin, Theodore & Craig
NHL.com · Oct 1
- Jack Eichel Reaches 700-Point Milestone as Golden Knights Beat Blackhawks 5-2
goldenknightsnation.com · Oct 1
- Golden Knights Maintain Nearly Perfect Balance On Blue Line In Season Opener
sinbin.vegas · Sep 30
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
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
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | VGK | $7.35M | 7.1% |
| 2027-28 | VGK | $7.35M | 6.5% |
| 2028-29 | VGK | $7.35M | — |
| 2029-30 | VGK | $7.35M | — |
| 2030-31 | VGK | $7.35M | — |
| 2031-32 | VGK | $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).