Can the Oilers get Hamonic?

The Edmonton Oilers are one of a number of NHL teams who are now paying very close attention to the future of New York Islanders defenceman Travis Hamonic.

One of the most consistent blue liners in the league, and one with a very reasonable contract considering some of his counterparts, Hamonic has made it clear to the Islanders that he wants to make the move back to his home in Western Canada for personal reasons.

With location very much on their side, the Oilers have been backed by some to be one of the favourites to land the 25-year-old, but nobody in Edmonton will be getting carried away at this point.

There is still a long way to go before the defenceman signs any deal, and the Oilers are one of a number of teams desperate to add such a talented player to their ranks. With Winnipeg also in the hunt for Hamonic, the Alberta-based franchise may come up short in the battle to sign the in-demand defender.

But that won’t stop Edmonton from doing everything they can to sign a player who has been a key member of this Islanders team ever since earning his place on the roster in 2010, two years after being drafted 53rd overall in 2008.

The main problem for any deal to take place is Islanders general manager Garth Snow’s insistence on replacing Hamonic with a blue-liner of a similar standard. Priced at around 17/4 when this article was produced with bet365 to top the Metropolitan Division this season, the Islanders are taking a risk in allowing the Canadian to leave and will want a decent replacement to come in for them to feel comfortable with any deal.

Aside from Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom, two players set to play key roles in the future of the Oilers, Edmonton don’t have any player who could be used as part of the trade in order to tempt the Islanders to send Hamonic in the opposite direction.

With Andrew Ference close to the end in terms of his time as an NFL player, Justin Schultz and Mark Fayne only make a fully functional defenceman when combining both their talents, which would leave Andrej Sekera as the only realistic tradable option.

Edmonton, meanwhile, will be keen to hang onto the Slovakian, preferring to pair Sekera up with Hamonic in this Oilers side. The lack of options in defence could mean the Canadians try to shift Fayne and a higher profile forward, although that is a lot of ifs and buts for Edmonton fans to start getting excited.

But in what has been another tough campaign for the franchise, Hamonic may well feel he is better placed making the move to a team that has a better chance of challenging for honours. That might not be Winnipeg, who themselves don’t look in that strong a position to securing a return to the postseason. But despite their troubles on the ice, both teams could well be at the front of the queue to sign a player who has made it clear he wants to return home.