Senators head coach Travis Green provided mixed reviews of the duo's recent play together.
When Artem Zub suffered a concussion in the opening minutes of the team's October 14th game against the Kings, it opened the Senators up to a cold, hard reality. The organization was ill-equipped to handle any lengthy absence of one of its top-four defencemen.
Since Zub's injury, his defensive partner Jake Sanderson has predominantly played with Travis Hamonic in the five games since. The overall results have been underwhelming. The pairing has logged 76 minutes and 58 seconds of five-on-five ice time together, with the Senators generating 39.77 percent of the shots (CF%), 40.70 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), zero goals, four goals against (0 GF%) and 31.82 percent of the expected goals (xGF%).
Senators head coach Travis Green was asked to reflect on the pair's recent play in his first media availability since the team returned from its three-game western road trip.
"They've had some good games," he responded. "A couple that maybe were not as good as they'd like."
The data certainly backs that up.
The Senators never scored a goal with the pair on the ice. But, to their credit, they did not allow a goal either while generating a greater share of the shots on goal and the expected goals. Interestingly, both games occurred with the Senators playing at home, where they had the last change and could target preferred matchups.
"Sandy is a really good player," Green said. "I think Hammer is playing as good as I've seen him play in a while. But, when someone goes down, someone else moves up. Like I said, they've had some good moments and probably some moments that they'd like to have back."
I don't know what people expect the head coach to say regarding the defenceman. It is naive to believe he will publicly slag a well-liked veteran within their dressing room whose job security is unilaterally protected by his contract's no-movement clause.
Green tried to downplay concerns by adding context to the pairing's recent performances.
"You've got to remember, too," Green explained. "They are playing against the best players on the other team. So, the numbers are going to be skewed a little bit."
He is not wrong. Sunday's performance against the Avalanche was not Hamonic's best work. When he was on the ice at five-on-five, the Senators were outshot 31 to 11 (26.19 CF%), according to NaturalStatTrick. The shots on goal totals were 18 to 4 (18.18 SF%), with the Avalanche scoring one goal to the Senators' zero. The Avalanche also generated 14.21 percent of the expected goals (xGF%).
Most of that damage came with Nathan MacKinnon on the ice. When the speedy centre was on the ice against Hamonic, the Avalanche generated 80 percent of the shots (20 to 5, CF%), 92.86 percent of the shots on goal (13 to 1, SF%), one goal (100 GF%), and 87.15 percent of the expected goals (xGF%).
Those numbers are poor, but Green matched his team's best defensive defenceman, Sanderson, against the 2024 Hart Trophy winner. A consequence of that decision meant Hamonic was along for the ride.
The reality of the Senators' situation is that their Achilles heel was depth on defence, and now Hamonic's playing a role he is not suited for. A glance at his HockeyViz isolated defensive impact will show that he's a player who spends a disproportionate amount of time in his own end defending.
It is not his fault that he is in this position. Nor is it his fault that Zub is hurt or that the organization failed to address their quality of depth in the offseason.
The easiest decision the organization could have made to create roster flexibility and potentially target a more talented player was to buy Hamonic out.
That never happened.
Until Artem Zub returns to the lineup, the only option is for Hamonic to play. Sanderson is talented enough to carry an anchor, but there will be nights when it will be exposed.