Observations:

November 2015 – Hanifin scored his first NHL goal, a laser from the point short-side on former Hurricane Anton Khudobin. It was the lone goal in a 4-1 Carolina loss against Anaheim.  Kevin LeBlanc

November 2015 – The Canes made the decision to keep Hanifin on the NHL roster largely due to his well-developed hockey sense, NHL frame, and high maturity level. GM Ron Francis expressed a willingness to keep the young blueliner under close watch, with Raleigh being the best place for the organization to monitor his day-to-day progress. The Hurricanes have allowed Noah to progress slowly, giving him the occasional night off to watch from the press box. He has shown immense talent in all zones, displaying flashes of what will likely make him a core player for the coming years in Raleigh.  However, being an 18 year old in the NHL is no easy task, and he has been prone to a couple mental mistakes as well. He hasn’t been a huge fantasy producer thus far with only two points (both assists) in 14 games, but the offense will come. He has not been afraid to shoot the puck, averaging over a shot per game. As his role continues to grow, and he gets increased power play time, his offensive stats should increase. Temper fantasy expectations for this season.  Kevin LeBlanc

June 2015 – The Carolina Hurricanes selected defenseman Noah Hanifin 5th overall at the 2015 NHL Draft. Brendan Ross

February 2015 –Blessed with great size, outstanding four-way mobility and confident puck skills, Boston College freshman Noah Hanifin is projected to be a Top 5 selection at the 2015 NHL Draft. His high panic threshold and overall poise under pressure allows Hanifin to dictate the pace of the game from the backend. Through strong positioning and an edgy defensive game, Hanifin proves to be as impactful on the defensive end as he is on the attack. Hanifin owns a high-end processor and rarely ever gets goaded into a mistake. He’s composed, confident and calculated with his decisions and is expected to develop into a franchise defenseman. His ability to sense pressure and anticipate the game allows him to dictate the pace of the game and it’s precisely why he’s had no trouble making the transition to the NCAA as an 18-year-old freshman. Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook:  A-

Franchise pairing characteristics including admirable size, mobility and instincts makes Noah Hanifin the top defensive prospect of the 2015 NHL Draft.

Footage:

Get to know Noah Hanifin:

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Noah Hanifin shift by shift (with commentary):

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