Leafs' President Conn Smythe did not like the ruling but granted the junior players a trial after four of his team's forwards were injured.
In October 1953 Hannigan sustained a rib injury in practice and was out of the Maple Leafs lineup for three weeks.
Jack Perrin, President of the WHL Winnipeg Warriors (1955–1961), made overtures to buy Hannigan's rights from the Maple Leafs in September 1957.
Hannigan told Perrin that, if he could not play for the NHL Leafs, he would only consider an offer from the WHL Edmonton Flyers.
Gord Hannigan was a partner, with his brothers, in a successful Edmonton ice cream business at the time of his acquisition by the Flyers.