Isles Reportedly Looking To Trade Travis Hamonic
[Source] - Very quietly, the 
">Travis Hamonic.
Hamonic, a talented 25-year-old defender who does tremendous things off the ice, is in play, although the exact reasons are private. 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.
As a result, it’s not an easy deal for Islanders to make. “The problem with them trading Travis Hamonic,” one exec said, “is they want… Travis Hamonic.” Several sources indicate Snow is not interested in a picks or prospects type of return. He’s looking for equal-level replacement.
This is a move I can, though very reluctantly, very easily get behind. Hammer is one of the OGs… been with the team since forever and has seen his fair share of rough times along with rest of the homegrown core here in NY. But it’s no secret that this team needs another top-flight defensemen, as Boychuk and Leddy are a phenomenal top-2 but can’t hold a candle to some of the league’s other top duos.
Now, knowing just how hard those top-flight d-men are to come by, you’re going to have to give a little to get a little. This team is beyond the point of dealing prospects for stop-gaps or journeymen for picks, its big name for big name if you want to be a contender, and that’s how Garth Snow needs to operate from here on out.
With that all being said, just because he is being shopped does not mean he is as good as gone, but if Hammer can be moved for a potential upgrade, and with names like Pulock, Pelech, and Mayfield in the system, I’m all for the risk.