Defenseman Travis Hamonic traded to Flames by Islanders

Defenseman Travis Hamonic was traded to the Calgary Flames by the New York Islanders on Saturday for a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and two second-round picks.
New York will receive Calgary's second-round choice in the 2018 draft and a second-round selection in 2019 or 2020.

The Flames will get a fourth-round choice in 2019 or 2020.
\[RELATED: 2017-18 NHL Trade Tracker\]
"I'm really excited," Hamonic said. "I have a pretty awesome opportunity in front of me. When my wife and I woke up and saw the news … we were kind of in limbo wondering if it happened or not, and then we found out and we're all pretty excited about going to Calgary, to say the least. That's an understatement. We're pretty jacked up."
Hamonic join a defense that also includes Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie and Dougie Hamilton.
"I think part of it is having the opportunity to play with those guys," Hamonic told the Flames website. "Those are three of the best defenseman in the League, in my opinion. When you have all three of them on one team and you get to join a defensive core with those kind of players ... I think that aspect really excites me."
Flames general manager Brad Treliving said he thinks Hamonic will fit in well on a team that earned the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference but was swept by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.
"He's certainly a guy that we've had our eye on for a while," Treliving said. "At the end of the day, you pay a price. You've got to give to get. You hate paying the price, but we look at a lot of things; we look at the makeup of our team, where he fits. He's a right shot, we think he fits in real good with our team. The coaches will figure out exactly where, but we had long talks. I think we can slide him in a Brodie situation. I like the looks of that top four.
"He moves pucks, he's a character kid, he's got some bite to him. I think he's going to fit good with us. It came together."
Hamonic, 27, had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 49 games with the Islanders this season, averaging 20:27 of ice time. He had 108 blocked shots, ranking second on New York in blocks per game (2.2). Hamonic has three years remaining on a seven-year, $27 million contract with an average annual value of $3.86 million, according to CapFriendly.com.

Selected by the Islanders in the second round (No. 53) of the 2008 NHL Draft, he has 146 points (26 goals, 120 assists) in 444 regular-season games and four points (one goal, three assists) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"We have a lot of depth on the blue line," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said. "It's going to give some of our younger D an opportunity to get some playing time, and we're really confident in that position moving forward. This was a situation that we felt we could capitalize and bring in some assets. Whether we use those in the draft or use them as a currency in a future player transaction, it's a good luxury for our organization to have."
Hamonic, who grew up in the Winnipeg area, had requested a trade to a Western Canadian team prior to the 2015-16 season for personal reasons. He rescinded that request after the season, when the Islanders won a playoff round for the first time since 1993.
Snow wouldn't comment on whether the trade was related to Hamonic's request last season.
"I'm not going to speak for Travis," Snow said. "We've talked a lot in the time that we've been together. Those will remain between Travis and myself. We think he's in a good place to play and for his family, and the Islanders get a solid return. I think it's a win-win for both teams."
"I grew up on the farm," Hamonic said, "So it's going to be awesome to be in Calgary now."