A roundup of the latest trade speculation regarding Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic.
Six teams could have interest in Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic.
NHL.com: Brian Compton reports New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic told reporters yesterday he wants to be dealt to a team closer to his Winnipeg home for personal reasons, citing a family matter involving someone close to him. His trade request was made several months ago, and both GM Garth Snow and head coach Jack Capuano were aware of it. Hamonic stressed that in no way was he unhappy with the Islanders. He also understands it could take time for Snow to address his request and doesn’t intend to handcuff the team.
TSN: Darren Dreger claims there’s five teams believed in the forefront, starting with the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. Snow gave Hamonic’s agent, Kevin Epp, permission several days ago to speak with interested GMs. Unless these listed teams step up, that list could widen. Dreger says it sounds like the Islanders would like a defenseman like Jacob Trouba or Tyler Myers, though Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would be reluctant to give up either guy. Cheveldayoff also has to contend with pending UFAs Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien, plus pending RFAs like Trouba and Mark Scheifele.
Pierre LeBrun reports the Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has coveted Hamonic for some time. If the asking price is someone like Darnell Nurse, he doubts the Oilers would do that. On his ESPN blog, LeBrun also believes Trouba could be too much for the Jets to give up, and claims the Minnesota Wild have at least talked to the Isles about Hamonic.
Scott Cullen also examined potential destinations for Hamonic. He notes the Flames would like to move Dennis Wideman, while the Islanders could prefer T.J. Brodie. He wonders if Dougie Hamilton could be part of the equation. The Oilers appealing blueliners are Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse. The Canucks don’t appear a good one-for-one swap option. Alex Edler is four years older than Hamonic, while the Canucks would have to add another piece if they were to offer up Chris Tanev. Cullen also cited Dreger’s points about the Jets (Trouba or Myers).
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox also looked at possible destinations and trade options. For the Jets, a swap of Tyler Myers for Hamonic. For the Flames, offer up Kris Russell plus a draft pick or prospect. From the Oilers, Mark Fayne and a pick or prospect, or perhaps Snow shifts from defense for defense and considers one of the Oilers’ young forwards like Nail Yakupov, Leon Draisaitl or Jordan Eberle. For the Canucks, he wonders if the Isles would be tempted by Dan Hamhuis or Alex Edler. For the Wild, he mentions Matt Dumba but also suggest Jared Spurgeon. As for the Avalanche, if they feel they can’t re-sign Tyson Barrie, perhaps that could be a match.
BLEACHER REPORT’s Adrian Dater believes the Avalanche “would love to get Hamonic, but asking price is equivalent top-4 D. Not a surplus area for Avs so unlikely they get him.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: First of all, kudos to Hamonic and the Islanders organization for how they’ve handled this. It certainly can’t be easy for everyone concerned. As I noted yesterday, the fact Hamonic is still an Islander indicates how difficult it is for Snow to find the right fit. Really, there’s only six worthwhile destinations, and while they have varying degrees of interest in Hamonic, finding a suitable fit for both return and dollars isn’t easy.
I think the Jets want to keep Myers, but swapping him for Hamonic would certainly free up some cap space (roughly $1.7 million annually) for one of their free agents. I think the Isles would make that deal if it’s offered up, but are the Jets willing to do it?
Snow seems intent on getting a quality defenseman back, so I doubt he’ll have interest in Fayne from the Oilers, and I don’t see them giving up Klefbom or Nurse. The Flames have lots of blueline depth, but the Isles won’t want Wideman and the Flames won’t part with Brodie. Russell’s a good shotblocker, but I don’t put him on the same overall skills level as Hamonic. As for Hamilton, his expensive new contract and poor performance this season hurts his trade value.
I don’t see the Isles having interest in Hamhuis, while Edler’s age and cap hit ($5 million) could be an issue. I don’t think Spurgeon will interest the Islanders and I doubt the Avs part with Barrie.
What likely happens is Snow remains patient and wait for better offers to come. At some point, be it this season or next summer near the NHL draft, Hamonic will be dealt. It just a matter of finding the right fit.
I have no knowledge & this is not a rumor. I just wonder if,under the CBA, a player were to leave the game for a year and forfeit his pay,what would be his status on returning? We don’t know the nature of his issue, but it does seem that neither side in the CBA is much interested in assisting the odd case that falls in the cracks.
If you leave your team without permission you have breached your contract. Also, it would probably just be best to trade him then give hi permission to sit out a year and then try to come back after not playing for a year. You are pretty much burning the next 2 years of his contract while leaving the team with a gaping hole in the roster. Plus the cap hit is still going to apply so that teams don’t circumvent the cap. It just doesn’t really work.
The team suspends you and you and your contract sit there until you resume playing or you’re traded ( Tim Thomas ). Hamonic won’t do that way too much character.
I would be very surprised if Draisatl in not an untouchable.
If Snow can’t/won’t resign Okposo why not package him with Harmonic to the Jets for Buff, Stafford and one of their 3 young goalies or Jack Roslovic or Joel Armia?
The Isles have said they won’t trade for an upcoming UFA, which takes Buff out (plus Buff has a no trade clause where he would submit 10 teams). They have also said they want a similar player with a similar contract to that of Hamonic (good luck finding that guy Myers is the only guy close). Off the Jets roster it really only leaves Trouba and Myers as options, and it doesn’t seem like Chevy wants to move either (which is crazy I would do it in a second for Hamonic), Myers is a great skater and a really nice player but for a guy that is 6’8″ he sure lacks meanness and fire. As a Jets fan I would like to see Enstrom as part of a package for Hamonic but it leaves the Jets very heavy with right handed d-men and I can’t see Snow taking on Enstrom and that salary. Maybe Enstrom, Ladd ( pending UFA ) for Hamonic and pending UFA Okposo ( minnesota guy ).
LOL since when is Colorado any closer to Winnipeg then New York the whole Idea of Hamonic going home closer to Winnipeg was for family reasons I would say Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and possibly Minnesota would be the most logical destinations for Hamonic.
It’s Winnipeg (obviously) then Minnesota, Calgary and Edmonton in that order for flights from Winnipeg. Calgary is a little easier than Edmonton to get a direct flight
Agree in order those would be the most logical choices with Winnipeg leading the way.
Hamonic for Myers makes the most sense, but only if the Jets find enough value in cap relief.
They get about 1.65 a year in cap relief.
NYI only takes the additional 1.643 cap hit of Myers if Winnipeg sweetens the pot. Not to mention Hamonic is signed 1 year longer. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Also I don’t see Snow moving Hamonic for forwards. He needs to get a comparable player back so those of you pinning for Hamonic to Edm for forwards need to put down the pipe, & that includes numerous journalists & broadcasters on the NHL sat network. Haha!
Another way that Snow has really impressed me in how he has been handling all of this. Harmonic too as I think he’s done this honestly and classy and with great respect to the team and fanbase. Hopefully something gets done so everyone comes away a winner here.
That said, given that there is such few options and marginal fits (Myers seems likely for me, however I don’t know if I would pull that one on a 1:1 as the Peg), I think there is potential for a 3 way trade as well if another dance partner from elsewhere in the league comes out of the blue.
Sorry AJ just saw your last sentence…
I think the only way out of this to satisfy everyone is to try to swing a 3 team trade.
ie. something like, but not necessarily, Hamonic to Oilers, Eberle to Team X, Top D man from Team X to Islanders.
No way we trade Buff, Trouba or Myers.
I can see Enstrom being offered with Morrisey or another top end prospect and maybe a pick.
For vcr to get Hamonic it would need to be a three way deal, because they can’t affor to give up a current D and that’s apprenatly what the Isles want back. So a forward to team (A) for a D and then that D to the Isles for Harmonic