While a good majority of fans will likely not share in his enthusiasm for the anti-autumn 'hockey weather' we're experiencing, they certainly can relate to the excitement he has for the new campaign.
The energy, as they say, is palpable.
Three weeks after it started, an overseas jaunt in the books and with the roster whittled down to the requisite 23, camp has come to a close and the dawn of a new season is only hours away.
And Hanifin feels as ready as ever.
"In the pre-season, a lot of it is just about getting your timing down," he said. "This is my fourth camp. Sometimes they can feel a bit repetitive, and frankly a bit exhausting with all the practice time we have.
"(But) I think it's been good. A bunch of us played a lot of games in this pre-season, and I think we're all really well prepared for tomorrow night."
Indeed, Hanifin and the Flames get a break from the piercing wind, soggy boots and treacherous roads - for one day, anyway - as they head out to face the Vancouver Canucks in the lid-lifter to the 2018-19 season on Wednesday at Rogers Arena.
It's been a long time coming for the 21-year-old, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes at the draft three months ago.
"I'm so excited," Hanifin said. "The guys here are unbelievable. (Mark) Giordano, especially, has really been helping me out. He's a great leader. (Travis) Hamonic's been great. The whole crew has been awesome and has made it real easy on me as a new guy coming in.
"It's all been building to this. And it's a big week. Tomorrow, we get the ball rolling, and then we get to come back and face those guys again on Saturday in our home-opener.
"I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it."
Hanifin will debut on the second defensive pairing, opposite the right-handed Hamonic.
The two have played together for a good chunk of the exhibition schedule and have found immediate chemistry as a puck-moving duo, offering sound defence and exhibiting the offensive upside the Flames need to click at full song.
For his part, Hanifin knows that while the duo has the potential "to do great things," there's more to it than simple chemistry.
The Boston native is coming of a career-high 32-point (10G, 22A) season, and he has every intention of besting that, no matter who he's paired with.
"Obviously, I'm an offensive guy and I want that to be a big part of my game," Hanifin said. "But the goal is to bring that without sacrificing anything defensively.
"I've been given a great opportunity here in Calgary to develop my game that way and to be part of something special.
"It all starts tomorrow night.
"The weather says so."
