Flames' asking price for Noah Hanifin revealed and it might be too rich for the Leafs

Hanifin is currently at the top of everyone's wish-list, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that former Calgary Flames general manager, Brad Treliving, is sniffing around his old stomping grounds. He previously acquired the former first round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes in a blockbuster move that also involved Dougie Hamilton and Elias Lindholm.

He hasn't lit up the scoreboard as often as many had expected but he has 58 goals and 268 points in 651 games through 9 seasons. He scored a career-high 10 goals and 48 points in 2021-22 and currently has 9 goals and 29 points through 53 games this season. It's not his offensive game that is his claim to fame, though. It's his two-way game that makes him so valuable.

In a different season, Hanifin might have been a lot more affordable but the market has already been set this year with sellers reaping the rewards. Sean Monahan cost a first round pick and Elias Lindholm cost a first round pick, a fourth round pick, 2 prospects, and a young NHL-ready player.

The Flames want at least a first round pick, on the low end, for Hanifin, but that's just the starting point. The buyer's market is heating up and teams like Detroit, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, and Vancouver have expressed serious interest alongside the Maple Leafs. Some comparable trade returns that Frank Seravalli from the DailyFaceoff mentioned included the deal the Boston Bruins struck for Hampus Lindholm in 2022 when he was acquired for a first round pick, 2 second round picks, a prospect, and a veteran defender.

Another deal that the Flames might model is the one the Los Angeles Kings made with the Columbus Blue Jackets last year when they acquired Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo for a first round pick, a third round pick, and Jonathan Quick.

The Maple Leafs - among the other teams - will be interested in seeing if Hanifin would be willing to sign an extension. He has expressed his desire to leave Calgary, which could worry some of his potential suitors. With that being said, Hanifin will cost a first round pick, at the very least, alongside another high-end asset.