At 17, Hanifin became the youngest player to suit up for Boston College, and a year later he became the only defenceman from the 2015 NHL Draft to start the season in the League that fall when he made his debut with the Carolina Hurricanes against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 8, 2015.
Hanifin, drafted in the first round (No. 5) by Carolina, scored his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 16, 2015, and became a regular on the Hurricanes blue line.
At 17, Hanifin became the youngest player to suit up for Boston College, and a year later he became the only defenceman from the 2015 NHL Draft to start the season in the League that fall when he made his debut with the Carolina Hurricanes against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 8, 2015.
Hanifin, drafted in the first round (No. 5) by Carolina, scored his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 16, 2015, and became a regular on the Hurricanes blue line.
He was coming off his best offensive season in the NHL (32 points; 10 goals, 22 assists) in 2017-18 when he was traded to the Calgary Flames on June 23, 2018, with center Elias Lindholm for defenseman Dougie Hamilton, forward Micheal Ferland and defenseman prospect Adam Fox.
A product of the Saint Sebastian's School in Needham, Mass., Hanifin passed on an opportunity to play junior hockey for Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and instead honored a commitment he made in 2011 to play for Boston College.
During his only season with the Eagles, Hanifin played in 37 of 38 games and had five goals, 18 assists and a plus-12 rating that helped BC finish tied for second with eventual national champion Providence in Hockey East.
Hanifin was captain of the United States team that won the gold medal at the 2014 U-17 World Hockey Challenge and won gold again at the 2014 World Under-18 Championship.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Hockey East All-Rookie Team (2015)
- Hockey East Second All-Star Team (2015)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (2018)
- Traded to Calgary by Carolina with Elias Lindholm for Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and Adam Fox, June 23, 2018.