Confirmed with Link: Travis Hamonic has requested a trade Part I

[SI90]

Hi Isles fans, Jets fan here.

We know the situation you guys are in, very similar to the Evander Kane situation last year. I cannot stress how vital it is that Hamonic doesn't have an NTC/NMC. Yes he wants to move to western Canada, but if Snow doesn't like the pieces he's offered he can just move him somewhere else that will. The most important thing is patience for the GM and the fan base. That being said, if a trade were to happen with Winnipeg here's how I think it would go down:

(click on player to see their general fanager page)

Toby Enstrom - 31 LHD - We're not likely going to move him. We have no LHD depth. He has an NTC anyways. I'm not sure if a lefty is enticing for you guys.

Dustin Byfuglien - 30 RHD - Pending UFA, probably looking for 7x7 or so in the summer. We're willing to move him, but I don't think he's the type of player (age or contract status) that you guys want.

Jacob Trouba - 21 RHD - The opposite of Buff, coming off an ELC and is young with boatloads of potential. He's having a bit of an off year, but he doesn't get PP time due to us running four forwards this season. Snow is probably asking for him, but Chevy is likely declining. Right now Hamonic is the better player. But we aren't in a hurry, we're still building.

Tyler Myers - 25 RHD - Certainly more offensive flair than Hamonic, but worse defensively. He can move the puck and shoot. I think he needs to be paired with a strong LHD. Signed until 2019 with a declining salary contract. Fits age and need requirement, but simply isn't worth as much as Hamonic especially due to his contract.

I think the best we can offer is Myers. We can add something like a mid pick, or a decent prospect. Have lots of goalie prospects but from what I hear that doesn't interest Isles fans much. I know forward prospects aren't too enticing and we don't have much D youth to spare. I think we may be willing to retain salary too, but not too much. Maybe 10%-20%.

I know that's a bit of a punch in the gut. That's likely why it isn't going to happen. It's too bad I don't think it's possible to make all three parties happy.

Thank you for your post. It was well thought out and respectful.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Myers and I wouldn't be thrilled if he was what we got for Hamonic.
The jets have no reason to Trade Trouba but that's who I would want.
I don't think the isles are Interested in picks and b level prospects.
Snow may very we'll have to settle for a Myers if that's the best he's being offered.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Can't argue with that at all.. we're not going to get equal value in hockey assets back..

Disagree.

 

[Felix Unger]

I think the best we can offer is Myers. We can add something like a mid pick, or a decent prospect. Have lots of goalie prospects but from what I hear that doesn't interest Isles fans much. I know forward prospects aren't too enticing and we don't have much D youth to spare. I think we may be willing to retain salary too, but not too much. Maybe 10%-20%.

I know that's a bit of a punch in the gut. That's likely why it isn't going to happen. It's too bad I don't think it's possible to make all three parties happy.

Thanks for the very reasonable post. I doubt that WPG retains salary, but otherwise I agree with you that this seems the most likely scenario that we an anticipate.

 

[beLIever]

Purely speculative, but hamonic agreeing to go to Vancouver when the distance between ny to wpg and van to wpg are nearly the same just tells me that hamonic doesn't like the nyc life

Vancouver's city life is NYC level with the added pressure of a hockey-centric media. Don't think of Vancouver as quiet and small just because it's Western Canada. It is a major city, is media is intensely focused on its hockey team, and getting to a quiet suburb from downtown Vancouver takes quite a while.

What Vancouver has that NYC does not have is (1) direct flights to Wpg; (2) no customs to delay the trip; (3) time zone change going West in his favor if he needs to stay over a night in Winnipeg on an off-day (you leave Wpg at 7am, you arrive in Vcvr at 8am after a 3 hour flight).

That said, he'd probably be better off in Minnesota than Vancouver as it's closer and Minneapolis does have a few directs to Wpg every day (and it's only about an hour flight, with two airports that are not customs nightmares).

 

[Doshell Propivo]

TSA Pre Check handles everything and I am sure as professional athletes they have that part all covered. I am not saying they get special treatment but they do get all the necessary arrangements made available to breeze through these lines with the occasional random search.

Pre-check is for going through security, not customs. There is Global Entry for expediting customs but that is for US citizens. Not sure what is in place for Canadians who frequently travel to the US and want to get through customs quicker but I agree that NHL travelers have the most efficient methods available to them. It' still probably a hassle though.

 

[allan5oh]

Pre-check is for going through security, not customs. There is Global Entry for expediting customs but that is for US citizens. Not sure what is in place for Canadians who frequently travel to the US and want to get through customs quicker but I agree that NHL travelers have the most efficient methods available to them. It' still probably a hassle though.

There is NEXUS. Canadian customs is rarely an issue coming into Winnipeg.

 

[dok101]

 

[allan5oh]

Thank you for your post. It was well thought out and respectful.

Cool beans.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Myers and I wouldn't be thrilled if he was what we got for Hamonic. The jets have no reason to Trade Trouba but that's who I would want.

I don't blame you.

I don't think the isles are Interested in picks and b level prospects.
Snow may very we'll have to settle for a Myers if that's the best he's being offered.

I just want to add we do have a boatload of good prospects. Not all would be available. Good names such as Connor, Roslovic, Petan, Armia, Lemieux, Spacek, Hellebuyck, Comrie, Harkins, Morrissey. No B prospects there. I could see one of the lesser ones being available to fill any gap in value.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

There is NEXUS. Canadian customs is rarely an issue coming into Winnipeg.

But what about flying back to JFK as a Canadian?

 

[SI90]

Cool beans.



I don't blame you.



I just want to add we do have a boatload of good prospects. Not all would be available. Good names such as Connor, Roslovic, Petan, Armia, Lemieux, Spacek, Hellebuyck, Comrie, Harkins, Morrissey. No B prospects there. I could see one of the lesser ones being available to fill any gap in value.

I love Connor. He and Barzal were my choices for the isles once we had the pick. I don't think the jets would include him. Idk. I'm so confused right now I don't even know where to begin.

 

[allan5oh]

But what about flying back to JFK as a Canadian?

No idea, does JFK have a NEXUS lane? Is it full time? Also a lot of US/Canada flights are prescreened. Winnipeg has CBP officers. When you get to the US destination it's just like a domestic flight.

 

[enigmatic]

cappy was just quoted saying he has known about this situation for months and that him and garth have talked about players in the west......wow, please dont tell me he is now scotty bowman and in charge of coaching and front office decisions......

he is so stupid for not spotting in the young kids with this hanging over the team

 

[Konk]

I just want to add we do have a boatload of good prospects. Not all would be available. Good names such as Connor, Roslovic, Petan, Armia, Lemieux, Spacek, Hellebuyck, Comrie, Harkins, Morrissey. No B prospects there. I could see one of the lesser ones being available to fill any gap in value.

Armia, Lemieux, Spacek, and Harkins are the definition of 'B' prospects. In fact, Armia is probably more of a C prospect at this point. Harkins is trending downwards as well.

Granted, Spacek may very well elevate himself to an 'A' prospect if he keeps it up.

 

[TexMurphyPI]

Myers with WPG retaining about $1mill or so cap hit to bring the cap hit closer to Hamonic for the isles. That's the type of deal I'd expect if the deal is with WPG and is a 1 for 1.

 

[Felix Unger]

cappy was just quoted saying he has known about this situation for months and that him and garth have talked about players in the west......wow, please dont tell me he is now scotty bowman and in charge of coaching and front office decisions......

he is so stupid for not spotting in the young kids with this hanging over the team

I know it's not just you, but I gave an argument why it now makes sense that the kids are in the AHL and nobody has answered it. It is simple.

Isles had to:
(a) commit to potentially playing two rookies on the right side (Pulock + Mayfield) when Hamonic goes or
(b) sign a vet that needs NHL ice (Zidlicky) and play both Pulock and Mayfield in the AHL until Hamonic goes.

All while having the expectation of making the playoffs. They chose (b).

This is one of those moments where it pisses you off that the smug little dude is right.

 

[Renbarg]

cappy was just quoted saying he has known about this situation for months and that him and garth have talked about players in the west......wow, please dont tell me he is now scotty bowman and in charge of coaching and front office decisions......

he is so stupid for not spotting in the young kids with this hanging over the team

Still wants to win games. Is it that hard to believe that he simply thinks that brian strait gives them a better shot right now? He hasn't been horrendous this year and he has been the 7 guy, who would've played much less than he has if hickey stayed healthy.

I'm 100% certain they have plans for pulock, mayfield, and pelech. Maybe they simply think they are not quite ready yet.

I know that they are the shiny new toy but let's not lose our minds. This is coming from someone that was not happy with the zidlicky signing. They'll get their opportunity, sooner or later, the team is playing their best hockey right now.

 

[Le Grec]

i'm told that assumptions, conjecture, or fantasy that hamonic's agent or #isles themselves leaked info are 100% false.

 

[Satan'sIsland81]

Just chiming in on this Hamonic thing. When I first saw it last night obviously I literally froze and was probably as shocked as anyone. If this is a personal thing or a family thing, I wish Travis the best, but with that being said, Snow cannot just give in to this request for any return. This is not the third line penalty killer or fourth line faceoff specialist looking for a better role somewhere else. This is at worst our third best defenseman under a great contract and not even 26 years old, and at best, arguably our best defensive and physical defenseman on the roster. Trading him for anything less than a major return could set back this team's progress and hurt all the rest of his teammates chances at contending for years.

You cannot let a players private situation rule over a team's best interests. This is a job and he signed the contract. This sets a terrible precedent in the NHL or any sport for that matter. Now it is not even if a player is being misused in a undesirable role or when his contract is up, now a player a can simply demand a trade for any reason in his personal life? I am sorry, like I said I hope it works out for him, but his personal life is his problem and should not affect 22 other guys on that roster. Either Snow has to get a comparable defenseman back or he needs to get an upgrade at another position that can then be turned into another trade with current players to get a defenseman back. Anything short of that you dont trade him. You cannot just give in and set back an entire roster that has been built.

 

[allan5oh]

Armia, Lemieux, Spacek, and Harkins are the definition of 'B' prospects. In fact, Armia is probably more of a C prospect at this point. Harkins is trending downwards as well.

Granted, Spacek may very well elevate himself to an 'A' prospect if he keeps it up.

At the risk of getting a bit OT, I suppose you're right. I know one stats/numbers guy who swears Spacek is the steal of the draft. We'll know more about Armia next fall when he needs waivers. Harkins isn't playing poorly, bad puck luck.

 

[enigmatic]

I know it's not just you, but I gave an argument why it now makes sense that the kids are in the AHL and nobody has answered it. It is simple.

Isles had to:
(a) commit to potentially playing two rookies on the right side (Pulock + Mayfield) when Hamonic goes or
(b) sign a vet that needs NHL ice (Zidlicky) and play both Pulock and Mayfield in the AHL until Hamonic goes.

All while having the expectation of making the playoffs. They chose (b).

This is one of those moments where it pisses you off that the smug little dude is right.

lol, i had no problem w/ them signing zidlicky (and still dont) even though he has been crap.....but with the possibility of them not being able to bring in a replacement for hammer, it wouldnt be a bad idea to both get them a few games on back to backs just in case they have to jump in, they arent completely green

 

[Le Grec]

hamonic says his request is strictly personal, nothing to do with #isles. "i've been treated like gold ever since they drafted me."

 

[beLIever]

Per Staple, a minute ago: Hamonic says his request is strictly personal, nothing to do with #Isles. "I've been treated like gold ever since they drafted me."

 

[allan5oh]

So either someone pieced it together using other sources, or Hamonic himself.

 

[Le Grec]

hamonic called the matter "strictly personal" and understandably wouldn't go any further. Said he'd play the whole season if need be. #isles

 

[BroadwayJay*]

Can someone read between the lines here for me and blame it on Josh Bailey?