The Detroit Red Wings have signed right-shot defenseman Travis Hamonic to a one-year, one-way contract worth $1 million, aiming to add depth to their blue line. The deal was finalized recently ahead of the new <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/hockey/nhl/”>NHL season, with Hamonic just days away from his 35th birthday and unable to qualify for a 35-plus contract due to missing the age cutoff by a few weeks.
Hamonic’s Career Path from Islanders to Senators and Recent Performance Decline
Originally selected in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders, Hamonic was immediately recognized as a top-four defender and remained a key piece on their roster. Since his trade from New York in 2017, he has moved through several teams including the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Ottawa Senators, experiencing a gradual decline in his on-ice effectiveness as he has aged.
Hamonic’s last two seasons highlight this downturn. After Ottawa acquired him from Vancouver near the 2022 trade deadline, they signed him to a two-year, $2.2 million contract in mid-2023 following a solid initial season with 21 points over 75 games and nearly 19 minutes of ice time per night. However, his performance deteriorated significantly right after the contract extension.
During the full span of his contract in Ottawa, Hamonic played 107 games, contributed 13 points, and posted a minus-26 rating while averaging 16 minutes per game. His possession stats were notably poor in the 2023-24 season; despite starting most shifts in the offensive zone, he posted a -10% relative Corsi at even strength. Ottawa was outscored 77-44 and outchanced 787-635 at five-on-five when Hamonic was on the ice—a rough indicator of his struggles to impact the game positively.
Context of the Red Wings’ Defensive Needs and Hamonic’s Role
Detroit’s possession challenges make the Hamonic signing somewhat unexpected, especially given the guaranteed $1 million cap hit at a time when the veteran might have been approaching a professional tryout offer. For comparison, Jack Johnson, a similarly experienced defenseman with underwhelming recent contributions, recently agreed to a tryout contract with the Minnesota Wild, underscoring the unusual nature of Hamonic’s guaranteed deal.
The Red Wings roster already includes several veteran defensemen in the No. 5 to 7 role, such as Erik Gustafsson and Justin Holl. The team’s need for reliable right-shot defensemen behind emerging core player Moritz Seider has been a concern, as options outside of Holl and Jacob Bernard-Docker have been limited. Hamonic is expected to compete for a position on the depth chart behind these players during training camp.
Importantly, Hamonic’s $1 million salary is below the NHL’s threshold for cap relief via burying a player in the minors, meaning the Red Wings can place him on waivers and assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, without facing a salary cap penalty.
Prospects and Future Considerations for Detroit’s Right Side Defense
Alongside Hamonic, the Red Wings are considering the long-term development of 2023 first-round pick Axel Sandin-Pellikka, a young right-shot defenseman who will be playing in North America this season. Sandin-Pellikka, known for his offensive upside, is still only 20 years old. At the end of last season, he appeared in five games for Grand Rapids, registering one assist and a minus-3 rating. Given Detroit’s limited options for right-shot defenders capable of top-four deployment, the team faces a decision on whether to prioritize his NHL development immediately or provide him further seasoning in the AHL.
Following the Hamonic signing, the Red Wings have four remaining standard contract slots available as they finalize their roster heading into the season.