GM Steve Staios says he won't be buying out anyone and that Hamonic has great leadership qualities that he'll bring to the team next season.
It's not a stretch to suggest that the sun has begun to set on Travis Hamonic's career.
On a team that wasn't very good defensively, Hamonic was seventh among Ottawa Senators defencemen in ice time last season. He fought health and performance issues and struggled to stay in the lineup, leading fans to conclude his time in Ottawa might be drawing to a close.
Not so fast.
Hamonic has one year left on his contract, with a cap hit of $1.1 million. Former GM Pierre Dorion agreed to give Hamonic a full no-movement clause, so he can't be traded or sent to the minors.
So, if the Sens were planning to turn the page, that leaves the option of a buyout. The window for that is open right now until Sunday at 5 pm. A Hamonic buyout would cost the Sens $366,000 per season in each of the next two years.
But they aren't planning that. Current GM Steve Staios told the Athletic this week he has no plans to buy anyone out this summer.
“Travis is a veteran defenceman with great leadership qualities, and we expect him to bring those to our team next year,” Staios said.
Hamonic wasn't at his best, physically or mentally, last season. He was in and out of the lineup for health and performance reasons, playing just 48 games. Staios says Hamonic had minor knee surgery after the season. And mentally, he never found the groove or confidence he'd shown in the past.
Maybe, at 34 next season, with a return to full health, a new coaching staff, a new defensive system (that everyone buys into), and the arrival of Linus Ullmark, Hamonic's game and confidence have a chance to bounce back.
It's easy to imagine that Staios may have a soft spot for Hamonic. When Staios was in his final year in the league 12 years ago, he helped mentor a 21-year-old rookie teammate who was just breaking into the league as a defenceman. That kid was Travis Hamonic.
That's not to say that Staios will roster Hamonic no matter what. But if Hamonic still has some game left, Staios will give him a fair chance to show it.