The Red Wings made a surprise late-summer signing on Friday, bringing in UFA defenseman Travis Hamonic on a one-year deal worth $1 million AAV.
Most hockey fans know this guy because he’s been around the league for quite some time. Hamonic is a right-shot veteran defenseman with 900 NHL games under his belt. Hamonic, who turns 35 tomorrow, just finished a four-year stint with the Ottawa Senators. He only cracked 10 points in one of those seasons (2022-2023) where he posted 21 points in 75 games. Hamonic had seven points in 59 games last season.
Point production isn’t really on this guy’s business card. He’s lauded as a two-way defender that plays a physical brand of hockey.
This will add some needed depth to the backend, but as of right now the Wings are carrying 24 players on the active roster. That will need to be trimmed eventually, as 23 is the max. Detroit currently has eight defensemen on the active roster.
He comes at a “bargain bin” price, which has been sort of a theme for Steve Yzerman in free agency this offseason. I’m not terribly moved by this signing, and I think they have too many defensemen that are cut from the same cloth. Something I learned today is that Hamonic has never logged an 82-game season in his 15-year career. Not that I want him to play 82 games, of course. It’s safe to say that his best hockey is far behind him.
My gut reaction is that if this signing moves the needle at all, it’s in the wrong direction. HOWEVER, It is a one-year contract that would be easy to move if needed, so whatever. Not that big of a hindrance in the bigger picture. Hamonic and Holl can fight it out for that 7th D spot. Hell of a mustache, though.
