NHL trade rumors: Oilers offered Islanders Taylor Hall for Travis Hamonic

According to Arthur Staple, the Edmonton Oilers wanted Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders for Taylor Hall but the Islanders turned it down.

Back in November, New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic politely requested a trade to a team closer to his home because of family issues. He later rescinded his trade offer. However, that reportedly didn’t stop the Edmonton Oilers from pursuing him in a trade. According to Arthur Staple, the Oilers offered the Islanders Taylor Hall for Hamonic but the Islanders turned it down.

That would have been an interesting trade to say the least. Edmonton wound up trading Hall to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Adam Larsson. The Islanders would have been very wise to accept that trade, and the Oilers would have gotten a more complete defenseman than Larsson. Hamonic is slightly worse than Larsson defensively, but on offense, Hamonic is a better puck mover and a more versatile weapon than Larsson.

The Islanders would have gotten captain John Tavares an elite wing in Hall. Tavares and Hall would form a very dominant first forward line for the Islanders. Hall would be the elite wing that Tavares deserves to play alongside.

Trading for Hall likely would have kept the Islanders from signing Andrew Ladd. However, Hall is clearly a better player than Ladd and Hall’s cap hit is just $500,000 more per season than Ladd’s. With the Islanders’ addition of P.A. Parenteau, who has chemistry with Tavares, the Islanders could have given the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals a good run for their money for the foreseeable future.

For more NHL coverage, check out our hub page.