Latest on Travis Hamonic and Patrick Marleau, status of Eric Staal, Anze Kopitar and Steven Stamkos, plus an updates on the Canadiens.
Latest Hamonic speculation and more.
Are the Islanders any closer to trading Travis Hamonic?
SPORTSNET: Damien Cox wonders how long the New York Islanders will keep “unhappy” defenseman Travis Hamonic around since news of his trade request broke last week. Cox reports Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray’s been interested in Hamonic for months and he has depth in defensemen to make a move. He also claims there’s those who believe Hamonic could accept a trade to Anaheim, though it’s far from Winnipeg where he’d prefer to be dealt. If so, Cox wonders if the blueliner could be one of those players believed unhappy playing in Brooklyn.
He also claims there’s word the deal could be done by “Monday or Tuesday,” though the fact this has been dragging on for months means Isles GM Garth Snow isn’t rushing to get a deal done. Cox also cited the speculation linking Hamonic to the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamonic made it quite clear his trade request was for family reasons. I don’t doubt Snow’s been trying to find the right fit, both to help Hamonic and the Islanders. I believe he’ll be patient. As for the Ducks, offense is their biggest issue, not a swap of defensemen. They’re at the bottom of the league in scoring. Adding Hamonic doesn’t address that issue, unless the Ducks intend to flip him for a scoring forward.
Speaking of the Oilers, Cox wonders if this is the year they could try to leverage a high first-round draft pick to improve their roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Oilers are once again in line to win the draft lottery, they absolutely should consider leveraging that picks to perhaps add a proven starting goaltending or a top-two defenseman. Yes, I know, Auston Matthews is considered a can’t-miss prospect, but the Oilers are top-heavy in talented young forwards, most of whom were first-overall draft picks. Matthews won’t help them keep the puck out of the net.
Cox also finds it strange that Carolina’s Eric Staal, Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos remain unsigned.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Cox noted, the situation of each one is different, but I believe uncertainty over next season’s salary cap is the major sticking point right now. Until these teams know for certain how much cap space they’ll have to work with, they can’t get into serious negotiations right now.
Several hockey people are wondering if San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau won’t be traded and might even rescind his trade request. “It’s a hard deal to make because of Marleau’s contract, and with few teams having the cap space to accommodate him. Maybe, just maybe, he ends up staying put.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t believe there’s any “maybe” about it. He’s staying put. The Sharks aren’t trading Marleau to another California-based team, while the New York Rangers lack the cap space to take on Marleau’s cap hit, plus they have no need for him.
Elliotte Friedman (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT) also believes the Ducks are in on Travis Hamonic. He notes Snow has tried to do right by Hamonic, but wonders if at some point he has to make a move that’s in the team’s best interest. He also believes if the Flames get into this, it could take a three-way deal to get it done. He feels the Ducks and Jets are a couple of teams who can do this directly.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could take a three-way deal to find the right fit for Hamonic, but the salary cap makes such moves difficult, especially during the season.
CALGARY SUN: Eric Francis reports sources claim the Islanders asked for T.J. Brodie or Dougie Hamilton for Hamonic, but both requests were rejected.
Latest on the Canadiens.
SPORTSNET 960 (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Elliotte Friedman reports the Montreal Canadiens are trying to make a trade. While center Lars Eller is often mentioned, one GM laughingly pointed his name seems to pop up every three months. Friedman believes they’re seeking both a forward and a defenseman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t doubt GM Marc Bergevin is “all in” this season. I also wonder if his efforts to bolster his depth at right wing have increased in the wake of Brendan Gallagher’s hand injury. In the past three seasons, Bergevin’s shown his willingness to make significant deals, most of which occur near the trade deadline. I expect that’s when he’ll likely strike again, as that’s when the trade market will be at its peak.
Posting musings from Damian Cox is about as reliable as posting what my 10 year old niece heard…
I laughed at what he said. It’s clear he sits in front of his computer thinking he’s writing a fiction column.
The only sportsnet reporter that has any credibility is Friedman. All the other are like sports gossip writers.
Lyle, if the Ducks are going to flip Hamonic for a scoring forward then they might as well flip one of their own dmen for a scoring forward. I think the Islanders should flip him for a scoring forward. They don’t have one top 9 forward that has proven that he has a whole lot of value unless playing with Tavares, other than Nielsen.
I was pointing out the Ducks biggest issue is offense and how Hamonic isn’t going to address it.
I haven’t seen the Ducks play this year. Yet Defense can result in offense. What is the ducks issue. Is it scoring while in the offensive zone or getting the puck cleanly from the home zone to the offensive zone to set up scoring opportunities? A solid D man who the forwards can have confidence in can go along way to improving a teams offense even if said D man puts up few points.
. . . Too bad Snow can’t trade Hamonic for an NHL coach.
Carlyle would just cost a pick.
…and Grabovski and Kulimen love him.
Shticky, I am willing to take any NHL coach over Simple Jack Capuano. He should have been fired 2 years ago.
Capuano could work in productions of “Grease” if he gets fired. He wouldn’t have to change his hair
Looks like Iron Mike is on his way back to the NHL.
The Habs are going to miss Gallagher’s “pain-in-the-ass” style and his point production for the better part of a key month.
For a team that wasnt particularly deep on RW I think it only leaves Weise, Semin and Smith Pelly as NHL regulars…maybe time to start shaking some bushes.
You got that right. If anyone thinks Weise is going to keep up that early pace they’re dreaming in technicolor and neither Semin nor Smith-Pelly is going to scare anyone. But in order to get a Top RW they are going to have to give up something substantial. A low-ranking 1st round pick isn’t going to do it.
Fucale? (at least as part of the package)
Career 10% shooter shooting nearly 14%…I agree George, Wiese isnt going to keep scoring at that pace.
Although …. and that’s a BIG although … he seems to be the best current bet to get top line minutes of the RW that are left, so who knows? Belesky got over 20 last year in Anaheim for HIS career year so I guess anything’s possible.
Winnipeg is the fit for Hamonic; but is Hamonic a fit for Winnipeg. The jets need scoring, they are heading down hill and in the toughest division in hockey. They can’t sit and wait to long. Maybe a bigger deal can be completed to include Okposo.
Jets are #28 in goals against. Trouba had a fantastic breakout rookie season but on a slow steady decline since.Often described as having big upside but it’s not visible right now. Could work.
Dear Santa, PLEASE!!! have Joe Sakic offer up the insufferable Erik Johnson in exchange for Travis Hamonic……and retain salary? Picks?…..I promise I will NEVER ask for anything ever again!!!! DarthB
I still belive Bergevin needs to look at his St. John’s roster first for any answers on RW. Andrighetto did not look out of place on the 2nd line. If anything, he made them more dangerous.
Bergevin should definitely take the opportunity to dress prospects in Gally’s absence. The Habs will have no trouble winning the Atlantic and the upside is you see if there is anything in the cupboards. Andrighetto has looked in his handful of NHL games. This is a good opportunity for him. GMMB will do as he has in the past and pull the trigger closer to the TDL.
I’m think Hamonic’s situation is not a pressing one. I am sure if a relative was terminally ill he would have been moved unless Snow is a heartless evil man.
The problem is the longer he goes without making a deal the weaker the position he is dealing from and the more impatient and unhappy Hamonic becomes. It would be in Snow’s best interest to get a deal done before the Christmas trade freeze. Really hoping a deal can be made with the Oilers that includes Schultz.
Saying that I assume you an Oilers fan? lol
Not to sound like an a*^hole, but there is no way in H-E-Double hockey sticks Snow wants Schultz, the guy is horrible.
The only way Edm lands Hamonic is if they deal Nurse or find another team dumb enough to take Schultz in a 3 team trade, which is extremely rare and hard to fathom.
lol so lets get this straight….you are saying there is a chance???
Canadian King, the only way? What prevents Edmonton from sending a forward and or draft pick to a team. That team then sends a Defensmen to the Islanders and Harmonic comes to Edmonton.
Lets see
Yakupov goes to Anaheim, who sends Fowler to the Islanders who then Send Harmonic to Edmonton.
Canadian King, if I am Snow I offer Hamonic and Dal Colle for Draisaitl and Schultz. I will take Schultz if I get the wing I desperately need. Btw, nice job bringing back the H-E double hockey sticks.
I wonder if a deal to Chicago for harmonic can be swung? Something around hum and Seabrooke? It get Harmonic close to Manitoba, gets Snow at top D-man in return , youthh skill and cap for Chicago… Harmonic and okposo to Chicago for Seabrooke plus? There are huge holes obviously but cap wiseand geographicallyI think it is pretty close. No clue if it actually makes sense for either team and no idea what other pieces would need to be included…
As an Isles fan, I would love to land Seabrook but it’s not happening. Teams generally don’t sign players to long term deals and deal them a few months later. If they deal Seabrook they are sending that Bicknell contract with him, that’s for sure.
The commitment in Seabrooks case was from both parties. Apparently Seabrook had been promised a solution to a contract already last year and the deal was never in danger as he wanted to stay too. Both Chicago and Seabrook was 100% committed to each other and a long term contract. Any deal in Chicago won’t involve him.
Great idea: Send Harmonic to Edmonton, then Yakapov to Montreal then Emelin and 2nd round pick to NYI…If only