Hamonic cleared for contact.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
More progress for Travis Hamonic. He’s first on the ice at morning skate in a regular jersey. Had been skating the last two days in a non-contact jersey. #Flames

[sureLoss]

1235983200783978496

[sa226]

Good to see.

I'm guessing the most likely candidate to come out of the lineup would be Forbert. Which is too bad because I've liked his play.

If they try to force feed Hanafin\Hamonic when Andersson has greatly improved that pairings performance I'd be dissapointed. However a Gustaffson\Hamonic 3rd pair could be a good thing.

[The Hendog]

Wonder if they tried to trade Hamonic at the deadline once they were reasonable certain they were getting Gus and Forbert

[mikephoen]

Wonder if they tried to trade Hamonic at the deadline once they were reasonable certain they were getting Gus and Forbert

They should have, but I doubt they did.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Hard to trade a guy that is a pending UFA and injured, with no clear time table for return.

[Roof-Daddy]

Is it bad that I don't want him back?

I mean, glad that he's healthy etc, but I'd rather they leave the line up alone for now.

[Moneyhands23]

Is it bad that I don't want him back?

I mean, glad that he's healthy etc, but I'd rather they leave the line up alone for now.

Not at all. I feel the same way. If he plays it better be on the 3rd pairing

[Toonage]

^^ Nope. I'm in the same boat.

He'll make a hell of a black ace. But he probably shouldn't hit the ice for the rest of the year. He's been mediocre at best, brought pairings down at his worst.

[shadowlord]

My vote is to ease him back into the lineup on the 3rd pairing, and put him on the PK unit to give him more ice time.

But this is Ward, so Hanafin/Hamonic.

[Rando]

Gio - Brodie
Hanifin - Anderson
Kylington - Hamonic

Gustavsson was good early but I don't want Kylington to sit long, Forbort is fine but Hamonic is easily better

[TheIronMaiden]

Good to see that the Flames have options now. For a while it seems like the had only one configuration on D.

[MrMike]

Guys a warrior. We will be happy to have him come playoff time.

[dissentowner]

Gio - Brodie
Hanifin - Anderson
Kylington - Hamonic

Gustavsson was good early but I don't want Kylington to sit long, Forbort is fine but Hamonic is easily better

No way I play Kylington over Gustavsson. Gus is a PP specialist and more talented with more experience. I like the D the way it is now, I don't even want Harmonic back in unless there is an injury.

[The Hendog]

Hard to trade a guy that is a pending UFA and injured, with no clear time table for return.

Stranger things have happened

https://imagez.tmz.com/image/41/4by3/2020/02/28/4156f28bf73b460a84573e732983c675_md.jpg

[savardandjokinen]

I think a Hamonic Gustafsson pairing would be good. Ones very offensive and ones very defensive

[Enoch Root]

Having extra defensemen, and being able to move guys in and out of the lineup to give them rest or heal, is a great situation to be in, for the final 14 games plus playoffs.

Whether Hamonic is better than Forbort or not, really isn't the issue IMO. I think the relevant issue is: which one suits the Flames' needs better?

And while Hamonic is probably a better all around player, Forbort has the size and ability to clear the front of the net. And I think that is an attribute that the small and soft Flames need more of.

[VilleN]

Am I the only one who thinks Kylington has been pretty awful this season? I'd rather he doesn't play for the remainder of the season barring injury. I'd prefer Gustafsson by a mile, probably Stone too.

[GioforPM]

Having extra defensemen, and being able to move guys in and out of the lineup to give them rest or heal, is a great situation to be in, for the final 14 games plus playoffs.

Whether Hamonic is better than Forbort or not, really isn't the issue IMO. I think the relevant issue is: which one suits the Flames' needs better?

And while Hamonic is probably a better all around player, Forbort has the size and ability to clear the front of the net. And I think that is an attribute that the small and soft Flames need more of.

Hamonic and Forbort play opposite sides anyway. I suspect it will be:

Gio-Brodie
Hanifin-Andersson
Forbort-Hamonic

It may be Gustafsson draws in if the powerplay isn’t performing well. But maybe in place of Forbert since I don’t see him slotting over Hamonic on it on the right (and after all he is a LHS).

[Enoch Root]

Hamonic and Forbort play opposite sides anyway. I suspect it will be:

Gio-Brodie
Hanifin-Andersson
Forbort-Hamonic

It may be Gustafsson draws in if the powerplay isn’t performing well. But maybe in place of Forbert since I don’t see him slotting over Hamonic on it on the right (and after all he is a LHS).

I'm sure we'll see that (along with many other combos), but I am not a fan because Forbort-Hamonic would be slow and unable to move the puck.

I think Forbort-Gustaffson is an ideal 3rd pair because each of them can also be sued for specific needs (Gustaffson PP, Forbort for net-front presence).

[Canada 02]

I’d be surprised if Hamonic is not paired with Hanifin

[TheScorpion]

I remember Wideman being a healthy scratch for the majority of the games post-deadline in 2017 after the Flames acquired Stone.

I could see the same thing happening with Hamonic.

[Huntingwhale]

Guys a warrior. We will be happy to have him come playoff time.

Meh, he was brutal last playoffs. A year later and more prone to injury, I doubt he magically turns into some playoff warrior. Glad he's back though as depth is always a good thing.

[Textcritic]

Meh, he was brutal last playoffs. A year later and more prone to injury, I doubt he magically turns into some playoff warrior. Glad he's back though as depth is always a good thing.
Hamonic was logging +22 mins a game in the playoffs last year. I can't see that happening again regardless of with whomever he is paired. I think if he is managed at 15–18 mins a night he can still be a really good option.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Hamonic is a polarizing one. Absolutely stabilizes our PK and is a monster at clearing the net & blocking shots. At even strength he loses coverage a lot due to his foot speed and has very limited puck moving ability. He and Hanifin should under no circumstances be reunited. I've already seen a difference in Hanifin's game since the separation.

[The Cobra]

I wonder when Gustafsson will be cleared for contact?

[Geeoff]

Record without Hamonic must be pretty decent hmmmm

[bubbsy]

I’d be surprised if Hamonic is not paired with Hanifin

ugh that would be frustrating as hell.

Hanafin looks way better with Anderson, and Anderson just looks better and better playing on that 2nd pair.

Hamonic is a 3rd pair guy, and if they try to force him back with Hanafin, I'll be very disappointed in the coaching staff.

[djsFlames]

Deep blue line is deep. Please dont reunite HH.

[calgarywinning]

Rested Hamonic is really good this time of year. All upside so far.

[GioforPM]

I'm sure we'll see that (along with many other combos), but I am not a fan because Forbort-Hamonic would be slow and unable to move the puck.

I think Forbort-Gustaffson is an ideal 3rd pair because each of them can also be sued for specific needs (Gustaffson PP, Forbort for net-front presence).

Both Hamonic and Forbort have a decent underrated first pass. As long as the forwards cooperate I think their zone exit will be OK.

[BigBrodieFan]

Nm wrong thread

[SeanCharles]

Gio-Brodie
Hanifin-Andersson
Gustafsson-Hamonic

Forbort-Stone

Send Kylington to the farm.

[Erick Estrada]

IMO this team hasn't missed Hamonic one bit. In fact they have been far better defensively without him. The sooner this organization accepts he's a 3rd pairing defenseman the better. It will be interesting to see what he fetches in free agency as any team offering him decent money and term will be sorely disappointed.

[BigRed]

IMO this team hasn't missed Hamonic one bit. .

Agreed, which is a little surprising because I actually think he's played pretty well this year, especially on the PK. Chalk it up to chemistry maybe -- somehow he makes Hanifin worse?

Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see what the team does at the end of the year.

I prefer Forbort to Hamonic, honestly, though hard to guess if he wants to stay. I think Gus is likely gone whatever happens -- he's talked a lot about never wanting to leave Chicago, etc. If that's the case, keeping Brodie becomes a pretty big deal, which is should be anyway IMO.

[Lil Pedro]

Putting Hamonic back together with Hanifin is a big mistake. It's not a surprise that Hanifin's game improved leaps and bounds when he was put on a pair with Rasmus. Hamonic on the third pairing with either Gus or Forbort is perfect. That said, I hope they allow Hamonic to walk July 1st

[Kipper_3434]

Our PK has been ridiculously good without Hamonic. His tendency to always shoot 5v5 has been one of the most frustrating things to watch this season. Glad to have the depth, but not sure he's top 6 at this point with our current depth. If he was a Lhs he'd be in the press box.

That being said forbort hamonic could be a descent shutdown pair and maybe save Gio from some pk minutes. Overall a good position to be in.

[GullFoss]

I'm more excited about Valimaki than Hamonic. Hamonic is a marginal upgrade over Forbort.

[dissentowner]

I'm more excited about Valimaki than Hamonic. Hamonic is a marginal upgrade over Forbort.

Disagree, from what I have seen Hamonic is not an upgrade on Forbort. I am actually hoping the Flames bring Forbort back, he has been what I was hoping Hamonic would be when we acquired him.

[GranteedEV]

Agreed, which is a little surprising because I actually think he's played pretty well this year, especially on the PK. Chalk it up to chemistry maybe -- somehow he makes Hanifin worse?

Hamonic's issue is that teams have been entering the our zone at will on him as he backs up like a tall, slow Kris Russell. This makes everyone worse because instead of breaking up plays at the blue line the team has to defend in the defensive zone, something Hanifin in particular struggles with as do a couple of our top line forwards.

Moving Andersson to that pair has resulted in far more plays broken up in the neutral zone as they should.

[activeStick]

I feel like people really need to temper their expectations of Valimaki if they don't want to be disappointed. He was a pretty decent prospect but has now suffered two injuries which has kept him out of the majority of two seasons during very key development years. You never know, but betting on him to reach his potential after what he's been through is probably not a great bet, at least to me.

[Vansmack]

Disagree, from what I have seen Hamonic is not an upgrade on Forbort. I am actually hoping the Flames bring Forbort back, he has been what I was hoping Hamonic would be when we acquired him.

I totally agree. Harmonic is attrocious with the puck on his stick. He is a warrior, and I will never question his compete, but he is a blackhole offensively and possibly worse at breaking out of the dzone.

[Mike F]

Does anyone have advanced stats on Hamonic showing him to be a big liability?

The only regular stats I could find are that he's 3rd amongst defensemen in TOI/GP and is only -3, which is better than Hanifin and Andersson. For further comparison, Gustafsson is -2 and Forbort is -1 in the 6 games they've played with the Flames (where the team is 4-1-1 and +6 in GF/GA).

[GranteedEV]

Does anyone have advanced stats on Hamonic showing him to be a big liability?

The only regular stats I could find are that he's 3rd amongst defensemen in TOI/GP and is only -3, which is better than Hanifin and Andersson. For further comparison, Gustafsson is -2 and Forbort is -1 in the 6 games they've played with the Flames (where the team is 4-1-1 and +6 in GF/GA).


Let's check it out. IMO defensive impact would be based on 5v5 on-ice fenwick against and 5v5 on-ice expected goals against. I usually look at both because

- to an extent defensemen control their ability to block shots
- expected goals is a good indicator of the shot quality / quantity you give up
- penalty kill numbers probably should be considered, but it's a lot tougher to evaluate statistically as teams that get more saves on the PK usually have worse shot numbers and vice versa. Is the player allowing fewer shots because they're killing penalties better, or because they're just being scored on so easily that other teams don't need four or five whacks? Who knows? But let's operate on the base assumption that Hamonic's been an adequate PKer, and the primary issue people have with him is at even strength.

So based on this, let's look where Hamonic ranks. For fairness sake I haven't actually looked at these numbers yet, although I did come across a concerning xGF% number for his impact since the turn of the new year but that's not what I'm about to post. So any information I'm about to post will be news to me. It's possible my eye test is wrong but let's see:

On-Ice FA/60:
https://i.imgur.com/88CRJ2G.png

Hamonic has been shelled the second-most on the whole squad. While his icetime is obviously that of a top 4 guy and he can't be directly compared with a limited-use guy like Yelesin (nor do guys like that even have much of a sample size to really look at), there's reason to think that at the very least he hasn't been as good as the four other big minutes guys Brodie, Giordano, Andersson, and his own partner Hanifin. I guess he's been better than Stone defensively, though.

On-Ice xGA/60:
https://i.imgur.com/QbXUIL3.png

Kind of the same deal. A few guys shift around but the four at the bottom are pretty decisively tied to the previous table. In Davidson's defense he's had to play his off-side and I doubt that helped.

While for some offensive defensemen we would have to factor in things like playmaking, I don't think that's really something Hamonic brings.

In his role, it's safe to say Forbort's been awesome. The team plays some serious shutdown hockey with him on the ice. Gustafsson's obviously been a beneficiary of his partner, and he's not really there for his defense. I'm not necessarily opposed to trying Hamonic in a third pair role, but I'm not convinced he'd be an upgrade over the two guys we've got there, or even Kylington whose skating erases a lot of rush chances caused by our forwards' turnovers.

[Dajazz]

Confirms the “eye test” and what Islander fans where saying at the time. If I recall correctly he had taken a step back (already) and they were pretty thrilled at the trade. His advanced numbers were iffy as well.

I’m sure someone with better Google Fu and/or memory will prove me wrong.

In any case, all coaches have had an infatuation with him and Hanifin on the second pairing. Personally I don’t mind the contract, if he could play 4-5th minutes and PK, but stapling more talented players to him seems to have been a mistake.

I would most want back the picks though. A first and two seconds....

[DeluxeMoustache]

^ I hope the coaches figure some of these things out