Sportsnet’s Luke Fox has explored rumors that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames may be chatting about a swap that would include defenseman Travis Hamonic. If so, this is not the first time Hamonic has been linked to the center of the hockey universe.
There was a time the Maple Leafs had a potential deal in the works that included Hamonic coming to the Leafs for Nazem Kadri. Unfortunately, Kadri wasn’t interested and wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause join the Flames. As everyone is now aware, Kadri was moved to Colorado as part of a deal that included Tyson Barrie and he’s done great things for the Avs franchise while Barrie has both played well and struggled for the Leafs.
As this season has moved along, the Maple Leafs have been struggling with injuries and could use another defenseman. Have they found their man and circled back to Hamonic?
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What Kind of Trade Might Toronto and Calgary Do?
Fox notes in his article, “Toronto has been eyeing Hamonic since he was an Islander and lost a bidding war to Calgary.” He goes on to add that Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and Flames GM Brad Treliving are on friendly terms. Both have likely talked about the fact that Treliving is eager to make a move and Dubas might need to make one.
Fox notes:
The moment Treliving re-signed righty Rasmus Anderssen to a six-year extension signaled to us that one of his 29-year-old UFAs in the top four, Hamonic or T.J. Brodie, won’t be coming back for 2020-21.
While you wouldn’t think Calgary would move a dependable d-man like Hamonic in the midst of a playoff push, perhaps they view their need at forward more important than taking a defenseman from a position of strength?
It’s no secret Calgary is in need of a top-six winger, a right-shot forward to be specific. Speculation is that they have their eyes on a few potential players and a couple of them might come from a group of forwards the Maple Leafs have been rumored to need to make available to better round out their roster.
“At some point, the Leafs must at least consider trading one of their middle-class forwards (Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, Alex Kerfoot to free up dollars for the back end,” Fox notes.
It seems like the optics are right for these two teams to seriously consider being trade partners. Whether it’s a one-for-one deal or the start of something bigger remains to be seen. Perhaps even more interesting, is that Sportsnet’s Eric Francis has a similar report out but suggests all of this is the case, not with Hamonic, but T.J. Brodie.
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