The Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Travis Hamonic of St. Malo, Manitoba to a one-year deal worth $1 million according to Rogers Sportsnet on Friday. This is actually a low risk move for Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman as he looks to add depth to his defense leading up to the 2025-26 NHL season.
Who has Hamonic played for?
Hamonic is joining his fifth National Hockey League franchise. He was previously with the New York Islanders for seven seasons from 2010 to 2017, the Calgary Flames from 2017 to 2020, the Vancouver Canucks from 2021 to 2022, and the Ottawa Senators from 2022 to 2025.
Hamonic’s career statistics
Hamonic has played exactly 900 NHL games and had 53 goals and 189 assists for 242 points. He was a -26 with 774 penalty minutes, 26 power-play points, nine shorthanded points, four game-winning goals, 1549 shots on goal, 1765 blocked shots, 1380 hits, 390 takeaways, and 699 giveaways.
Hamonic’s 2024-25 NHL statistics
This past season in Ottawa, Hamonic had one goal and six assists for seven points in 59 games. He was a -16 with 19 penalty minutes, 72 shots on goal, 92 blocked shots, 73 hits, 17 takeaways and 62 giveaways.
Hamonic’s 2024-25 NHL goal
Hamonic scored for the Senators in a 6-3 Ottawa loss to the Montreal Canadiens on March 18 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Hamonic put the Senators up 3-2 at 6:13 of the third period from David Perron of Sherbrooke, Quebec and defenseman Tyler Kleven of Fargo, North Dakota.
This was also Hamonic’s only multi-point game of the season as he added an assist on a second period goal by Ottawa at Michael Amadio of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Analyzing Red Wings defense
Detroit’s current defense corps is led by Moritz Seider of Zell, Germany, the 2023 Calder Trophy winner, who does not appear to be going anywhere. Like Hamonic, the Red Wings have Ben Chairot of Hamilton, Ontario. Like Hamonic, Chiarot played for multiple Canadian teams–the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets. He is also a veteran defenseman of 723 NHL games.
You could make the argument that Hamonic is right there with the next four Red Wings defensemen–American Justin Holl, and Swedes Erik Gustafsson, Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson. The Red Wings have already committed more money this season to Hamonic than Edvinsson.
Grading the transaction
I am going to give a grade of C here for Yzerman. The Red Wings added depth to their defense, however Hamonic is not as strong as he used to be at 35 years of age. This is also the first American stop Hamonic since requested a transaction to a Canadian team nearly a decade ago.
