34-Year Old Defenceman Re-Signs in Calgary

This will be Hanley’s third season with the Flames. Last season, Hanley played in 53 games for the Flames, scoring two goals and adding seven assists. The 53 games played was a big increase from 2023-24, when Hanley played in just ten games for the Flames.

Haley was acquired by the Flames in a trade during the 2023-24 season.

Role with the Flames

The Flames made a strong push for the playoffs before ultimately coming up short. The decision to bring back Hanley stems from the need to provide depth to the Flames defence, which was tested at times last season. A Flames team with a healthy defence may have found their way into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Hanley is currently projected to play on the Flames second defensive pair alongside Mackenzie Weegar. That is subject to change depending on the moves the Flames make this summer. Rasmus Andersson is rumoured to be on the trade block, which would shake up the team’s defence on the depth chart.

Depending on the needs of Flames this season, Hanley could be in for an extended role with the team. In his 10-year career, Hanley has never played in more than 53 games. However, should the need arise, Hanley could see him exceeding that total this season. If the opportunity arises, it will be interesting to see if Hanley can take advantage of the opportunity to make an impression in a full time role with the Flames.