Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia is reporting that the Ottawa Senators are likely to buy out veteran defenseman Travis Hamonic when the buyout window opens after the Stanley Cup is awarded. The 33-year-old was brought back last summer by former Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and was largely a disaster registering just six points in 48 games.
On top of his poor offensive output, Hamonic was a liability on the ice, posting dreadful possession numbers with a CF% of 43.2% and an xGF% of 41.5%. The Senators don’t have many effective right-shot defensemen but can ill-afford to roll Hamonic back out next season for nearly 15 minutes per game. Hamonic is owed $1.1MM next year meaning a buyout would cost Ottawa $366,667 in each of the next two seasons. Ottawa would save $733,333 next year which would certainly help as they look to address their goaltending.
In other Ottawa Senators notes:
- Garrioch also reported that Ottawa is trying to move Erik Brannstrom prior to the deadline for issuing a qualifying offer. The 24-year-old was a central piece of the Mark Stone trade and has never lived up to the billing of being a 15th overall pick. Brannstrom is owed a $2MM qualifying offer if the Senators want to retain his rights, otherwise, he will become an unrestricted free agent. The Eksjö, Sweden native posted three goals and 17 assists in 76 games last year, which were all career-highs, however, despite the improved numbers it’s hard to imagine that teams are lining up to give up an asset to take on that cap hit.
- The Senators are also reportedly trying to trade right-shot defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker (as per Bruce Garrioch). The Canmore, Alberta native is also a former first-round pick who has failed to live up to expectations. The 23-year-old is no analytics darling as he struggled to an even strength CF% of 47.5% last season but did find career highs in goals with four and assists with 10 as he played in 72 NHL games. Bernard-Docker will carry a cap hit of $805K next season and could be moved for a late-round pick or a lower-end prospect.