[Signing] Travis Hamoinc signs with the Isles (7yrs, $27mil)

[sureLoss]

Arthur Staple ‏@StapeNewsday now #Isles have signed RFA D Travis Hamonic to 7-year deal. $$ to come.

Arthur Staple ‏@StapeNewsday now Hamonic 7-year deal worth $27 million total. #Isles

[tempz]

How does Garth Snow still have a job?

[OILFAN #81]

This guy is a solid defenseman. 7 years is too long though.

[Bertuzzied]

Mini-Dipietro!!!

[devo22]

the term is scary, but the AAV is good. He has been fine on a pairing with MacDonald.

[RT14]

7 years at under $4 per is a steal for the Isles there. Hamonic is a solid Dman and only getting better.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by RT14

7 years at under $4 per is a steal for the Isles there. Hamonic is a solid Dman and only getting better.

The problem with 7 year deals is now they've removed one of the major incentives for him to keep getting better. Sure, he might be one of those guys with amazing self motivation, but there is a reason guys have their best seasons in contract years. Hamonic won't have another one until 2020 now.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by tempz

How does Garth Snow still have a job?

Because he was able to sign this contract? Steal for the Islanders.

And more importantly it sets the market for Brodie, if Harmonic gets that amount Feaster should be able to get Brodie locked up for less.

[Nsd1]

He'll be worth it in a few years. If the islanders can start loo king up their young d men now, they'll be set for a while.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Nsd1

He'll be worth it in a few years.

He's worth it today. Especially with the other contracts handed out.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I'd imagine this is what it must feel like to be a fan of an Eastern team when a west coast team makes moves... because my first thought was... who?

[Mister Yamoto]

Also signed Nabokov and Bouchard to 1 year deals. I say so far the Islanders have won free agent frenzy.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by tempz

How does Garth Snow still have a job?

Snow gets a lot of flack. Considering the internal budget he works with, and that he has to listen to the Willy Wonka of owners, he does not do a bad job.

[tempz]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Because he was able to sign this contract? Steal for the Islanders.

And more importantly it sets the market for Brodie, if Harmonic gets that amount Feaster should be able to get Brodie locked up for less.

Maybe I haven't seen him enough. But that term is scary and IMO should be reserved for superstar caliber players. I'm just looking at -8 in 48 games last year, 3 goals on 83 shots, 10 points. I also remember him being an idiot in the playoffs last year taking some stupid penalties.

[OffsideSpecialist]

I like this signing, and considering the conditions Snow has had to deal with in his tenure as GM I think he's done a decent, but not spectacular, job.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by tempz

Maybe I haven't seen him enough. But that term is scary and IMO should be reserved for superstar caliber players. I'm just looking at -8 in 48 games last year, 3 goals on 83 shots, 10 points. I also remember him being an idiot in the playoffs last year taking some stupid penalties.

Brodie was a -9 with 14 points. Stats tell less than half the story.

Hamonic played great in the playoffs as far as a 22 year old asked to shut down Crosby and Malkin can be considered. He brought a physical presence but I don't remember him taking terribly stupid penalties that don't normally come with that style of play. A 22 year who's possibly the #1 defenseman on a team that is making the playoffs is a rarity.

Now, I agree 7 years is a bit scary of a term. Another concussion or just any injuries in general could make this an albatross of a contract but he's looking like a cornerstone of the franchise for the next decade. Like Josi, who got pretty much an exact contract, it's a gamble of a contract giving them that term but if they keep up their development at all these become steals in the next 2 or 3 years.

I wouldn't mind Feaster following in line and offering Brodie a longer term contract instead of a bridge contract. And with Josi and Hamonic making under 4M, that sets the market for a long term contract for Brodie around 3M.