New York Islanders trying to trade Travis Hamonic
The New York Islanders are trying to trade defenseman Travis Hamonic after he requested a trade before the 2015 NHL season began.
The Islanders have confirmed that they are trying to a trade request made by defenseman Travis Hamonic. The trade request was made before the regular season began. This puts the Islanders in an awkward position because Hamonic is not the type of defenseman that the Islanders would like to trade. He’s relatively cheap and only 25 years old.
Hamonic loves the Isles. This is personal. Wpg, Edmtn, Cgy and Van all preferred. Might expand to other west cities. Tough on Isles....
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 18, 2015
Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman notes that the Islanders want to get equal value for Travis Hamonic. That could be an extremely difficult thing to do for the Islanders.
"There’s a ton to like about this player. He’s a right-hand shot, top-pairing defenceman with four years remaining on a good-value contract. The average annual amount is $3.857 million, although the actual dollars will be $4.875 million beginning in 2016-17. Teams are scared by term these days, but there’s less worry about someone signed to a fair deal during his prime years. – Sportsnet"
Trading Hamonic will also be difficult for the Islanders because replacing him will not be easy. When he’s at his best, he’s a top-pairing caliber defenseman. He doesn’t put up the sexy point totals of other defensemen, but he’s extremely efficient at suppressing shot attempts against and can generate enough offense that he’s not a liability on the offensive zone. That has a ton of value for a team like the Islanders who have struggled at times at suppressing shot attempts against.
An extremely obvious fit for Travis Hamonic would be the Edmonton Oilers. They desperately need defensemen. The only concern is what would the Oilers have to give the Islanders? The Oilers have a surplus of forwards, but the Islanders have the same issue. They have enough forwards as is.
Vancouver also makes sense, but like Edmonton would probably offer the Islanders a forward. If Hamonic is moved to either of those two teams (and they certainly make the most sense) of his preferred teams, I’m guessing that a forward would be going with Hamonic for a trade to make sense.
Hamonic is quite happy in New York, so whatever is making him want out must be pretty serious.