Defenseman Travis Hamonic has reported to the Vancouver Canucks organization after missing the start of the season for personal reasons and there being questions about whether or not he’d be available to the team throughout the 2021-22 NHL season. Talk of COVID concerns and personal matters surrounded the player, but it appears those issues have been worked out to the point where he feels comfortable suiting up and getting back into some NHL action.
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First, he’ll make a stop in the AHL where he’ll join Abbotsford in the coming days. Canucks general manager Jim Benning said the blueliner would need to get up to speed before joining the Canucks, a decision that makes a ton of sense considering Hamonic missed all of training camp.
When he’s ready to roll, Hamonic will be a welcome addition back to the roster. The Canucks stayed patient during a time when it wasn’t clear exactly what the future held for the veteran d-man. The organization asked fans to give Hamonic time and space and the team did the same. It appears to have paid off as the Canucks are getting an important piece back in the mix.
Hamonic signed a two-year extension this offseason and there were whispers the team might try to replace his salary with another signing if Hamonic didn’t return. Fortunately for both sides, it never came to that. “Just happy that he’s back,” Vancouver coach Travis Green said after a loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
Hamonic was initially penciled on the top pair with Quinn Hughes going into the season and before he took his leave. It is unlikely he slots in on the top pair immediately upon his return. Whether or not other roster changes will need to be made to accommodate his return to the team remains to be seen.
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