Normally, when a player requests a trade from the team they're currently on, they're unhappy with their situation in that franchise in some way. In the case of Travis Hamonic, the New York Islanders defenseman is looking for a trade out of New York due to "family concerns."
What can the Islanders get back for a Travis Hamonic trade?
Who can give New York an equal swap of a top-four defenseman?
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
In the grand scheme of trade requests, this is a strange and heartbreaking one. To ask for a trade to live closer to home, despite reports that it had nothing to do with displeasure with his situation in Brooklyn according to SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman, brings about the worst of possible scenarios to mind for a 25-year-old defenseman who’s still yet to hit his prime.
The Islanders are also in a bind with this trade request. Hamonic is a top-four defenseman in their system, and replacing that homegrown talent is not easy in a league with so few highly talented blue liners on the market. He brings a right-handed shot and tough minutes to any lineup, a valuable asset to give away in a league so shorthanded on tradable defensemen. New York’s options are limited even further, as Hamonic’s requested to be traded to somewhere in West Canada, near his hometown of St. Malo, Manitoba, just south of Winnipeg.
This gives the Islanders approximately four teams to work with: the Edmonton Oilers, the Winnipeg Jets, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Calgary Flames. It's been said that he'd expand this list to other Western cities if trades cannot be made, but let's stick with the four teams listed as the best chances to land Hamonic. It would make more sense for New York to fill the gap at defense -- a much harder position to refill on the trade block -- than to try and grab a higher offensive talent, if they can. The Islanders, and Hamonic, have the power in this trade, so they can dictate the terms of what they want, something they may not be able to get again in the team's next transaction.
If that’s the case, what could these teams offer the Islanders to land Hamonic? What would these teams have to give up to land a solid second pairing defenseman?
Edmonton Oilers
Give up: Nail Yakupov (RW) + 2016 third round pick
Get: Travis Hamonic (D)
Chance of happening: 2/10
Edmonton might be the hardest to nail down a trade for Hamonic. The Oilers have two big defensive prospects in Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom, but Edmonton has clearly expressed in the past that these two blue liners are not for sale. With their two greatest defensive assets off the market completely, the Oilers would have to dig deep if they wanted to land Hamonic on their blue line. Other defensemen such as Justin Schultz and Mark Fayne would work if packaged with the right offensive talent, but the former is on injured reserve thanks to back issues and the latter is 28 years old with just one point in 16 games.
The Oilers do, however, have an abundance of young offensive talent, and if they wanted to land another solid blue line presence, would have to part with one of their first-rounders. Nail Yakupov makes the most sense on both sides. The 2012 first overall pick hasn't been the best fit in Edmonton's scheme, though Connor McDavid's presence on his line has helped certainly. The Islanders have struggled finding a winger to play with captain John Tavares, and Yakupov by his side is an inciting offer.
Still, the Islanders are replacing a defenseman with a winger, not their ideal trade, and would get a third-round pick in next season’s draft to compensate. Even with the pick, there’s no guarantee it’ll blossom like Hamonic, and even if it did it would take years to come to fruition when New York’s need is more immediate.
Vancouver Canucks
Give up: Chris Tanev (D) or Alexander Edler (D)
Get: Travis Hamonic (D)
Chance of happening: 4.5/10
Vancouver has more defensive assets to play around with in a potential Hamonic trade. The Canucks are not necessarily married to any of their blue liners, and have a few players who would fit with the Islanders if the right words were spoken. Chris Tanev is a name that springs to mind for a potential New York target. While his two goals and 18 assists in 70 games for the Canucks last year were below Hamonic’s levels for the Islanders (five goals and 28 assists in one more game played), their salaries are comparable. Tanev’s cap hit of $4.45 million is larger than Hamonic’s at $3.85 million, but with almost $5.5 million in cap space to spare, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility.
Tanev, however, has a lower ceiling than Hamonic, potentially prompting the Islanders to ask for another offensive prospect to make up the difference. That’s where that trade could fall apart, so New York’s next option might be 29-year-old Alex Edler. While older in years, Edler’s statistics more fully match Hamonic’s with 8 goals and 23 assists in 74 games played last year. The biggest roadblock in Edler’s case is a no-trade clause, which he would have to waive -- he’d need to be open to moving to New York for the remainder of his six-year deal.
Calgary Flames
Give up: Kris Russell (D)
Get: Travis Hamonic (D)
Chance of happening: 6.5/10
Everyone's first thought upon seeing the Calgary Flames pop up on this trade list was probably new acquisition Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins. While it'd be fun to see how the reaction to this potential trade would go down, it's just not likely. Hamilton has only had a month to prove himself in Calgary and no way would the Flames want to give up this quickly on a 22-year-old defenseman just like Boston did this offseason.
Instead, 28-year-old Kris Russell is probably the Flames’ best chance to snag Hamonic from the Islanders. His numbers are on the level of Hamonic’s, with four goals and 30 assists in 79 games last season, and a $2.6 million cap hit. Russell’s deal expires at the end of this season, however, so decisions would have to be made if he were to stay on or go to the unrestricted free agent market. Russell could probably snag just under Hamonic’s $3.85 million cap hit next season depending on the rest of his year, with only the length of said contract a real question.
Russell might not be the best fit with the Islanders, however, as he has only two years of 29-plus points and is in danger of regressing should those numbers only be from the benefit of Calgary’s system.
Winnipeg Jets
Give up: Tyler Myers (D)
Get: Travis Hamonic (D)
Chance of happening: 7.5/10
Of course, the biggest name that pops out on the Jets is without a doubt Dustin Byfuglien, the big-bodied defenseman with an even bigger shot. The potential trade ramifications are exciting to fantasize about, but Byfuglien is a UFA next year and his skill set might not work in New York's system. The defenseman will probably inquire after a bigger salary than what the Islanders want to give, especially for a player that is the direct opposite of Hamonic.
A better fit for the Islanders might be Tyler Myers, a right-handed 25-year-old who has the potential to be molded into something bigger. Myers' cap hit is more expensive at $5.5 million, but he's not up for a new contract until after the 2018-19 season and the Islanders can afford to take on a bit more money to make it work. The Jets defenseman would have to re-work his no-move clause that expires after this season, but the hurdles are far less than a NTC. Myers' statline in recent years has been down thanks to injury, but his early years with the Buffalo Sabres saw his production exceed 30 points in both of the full seasons he played.
Winnipeg also is the closest to Hamonic’s hometown, which could be a big deal if his personal family issue worsens in the time that passes. The Jets have the fewest roadblocks in terms of a trade with the Islanders for Hamonic, but the loss for New York will be hard to replace if and when the time comes to move him.
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