Hamonic asks for trade

Elliotte Friedman is reporting that rugged defender Travis Hamonic is on the trade market.

Then Darren Dreger followed up with these two tweet, which means the Oilers are one of four teams who are automatically in the mix due to geography.

Hamonic is 25 years old, has played 342 NHL games, is in the 3rd year of a seven-year contract with a cap hit of $3.857 million and he shoots right.

He is exactly what the Oilers need, but do the Oilers have what the Islanders want?

He will not come cheap. He plays 23 minutes a night, the most on the Islanders’ blueline, and they have Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy.

It might cost Oscar Klefbom. The Islanders want a similar player in return.

Or maybe Jordan Eberle, although the Islanders would want a D-man who can play right away.

Peter Chiarelli and Garth Snow made the Boychuk trade when Boston had no choice but to move him due to salary cap implications so they have a history.

Chiarelli also has a history of re-vamping his blueline. When he was hired in Boston he changed his entire D corps in the first few seasons. He knows he needs to improve his blueline in Edmonton and it is rare that a young, proven and solid D-man like Hamonic comes available and wants to play in western Canada.

We know Chiarelli will make an offer, but will it be better than what Calgary, Winnipeg or Vancouver propose?

We will watch with interest.