[sureLoss]

http://www.startribune.com/ill-injur...nic/352020631/

Lots of talk that the Wild's in on Travis Hamonic, the top-4 Islanders defenseman who asked to be traded before the season due to a family matter (as first reported by Elliotte Friedman). I talked with folks inside the Wild before the game, and there's little doubt that Islanders GM Garth Snow has talked to Wild GM Chuck Fletcher lately. But my understanding is Fletcher has yet to talk to agent Kevin Epp, and the Wild would want to know the reason Hamonic wants to be moved.

Regardless, the Wild's at the cap, has a deep, expensive blue line as it is and can't just take on a player making a little under $4 million without giving up a significant salary. Also, Fletcher's first priority I'm told if he were to make trades right now would be to add up front, not on the back end.

The Islanders would want a similar top-4 defenseman if it were to trade Hamonic, according to the respected TSN guys Darren Dreger, Bob McKenzie and Pierre LeBrun. That would have to mean Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella or Jared Spurgeon (unless the Wild was willing to trade Mike Reilly or Olofsson, although that wouldn't make the money work for Minnesota). I just don't know if Fletcher would be willing to go there. Spurgeon is indeed in the last year of his deal and will warrant a big raise, maybe one the Wild can't afford. But he is unrestriced in two summers, and would the Islanders really risk trading Hamonic for Spurgeon, a guy they threw in the garbage once upon a time and a guy that maybe not be willing to sign long-term there because of it.

We'll see if this heads anywhere, but as of now, the Wild indicated that it hasn't even been given an asset price for Hamonic and nothing is close.