Yahoo Sports Ottawa Senators Defenceman Travis Hamonic: "I Still Feel Like I've Got Some Good Hockey in Me"
When the Ottawa Senators aren't winning, the fan base tends to get restless, looking for scapegoats. It's the same with every NHL team and one or two players often bear the brunt of it.
If you had to pick who that lightning rod player was from last season in Ottawa, it was probably a tie between goalie Joonas Korpisalo and defenceman Travis Hamonic.
Beyond the $4 million he'll get from the Sens over the next four seasons, Korpisalo is no longer part of the Ottawa discussion. As for Hamonic, who's entering the final year of his contract, he knows he had a rough season last year, but he also seems hell bent on turning it around.
"I didn't have a very good year last year, and I know that," Hamonic told TSN 1200 at the club's annual golf tournament this week. "But I had a couple of procedures done on my knee, had a good summer training, and feel younger on the ice. So, hopefully, that translates into some really good play. But I know that I need to have a good season."
In our book, the well-spoken 34-year-old someday has a future in broadcasting if he wants it. But right now, Hamonic feels like he can still compete, play strong, and get back to the standard that he holds himself to. With 841 NHL games under his belt, it's impossible to believe he would have played this long if he weren't capable of more than fans saw from him last season. But can he get back to where he was earlier in his career?
As the Senators try to decide, among other things, who will be handed the third job on the right side of their blue line, Hamonic has a lot going for him:
If he tried to play last season with a knee so troublesome that it needed two procedures, it stands to reason he'll be better at full health this fall.
He's got way more NHL experience than anyone he's competing with
Familiarity with the new staff: Hamonic used to play with GM Steve Staios and used to play for Travis Green
He's in a contract year
He's a likeable mentor in that room.
Jake Sanderson says he'll never forget how Hamonic (and Nick Holden) took him under his wing in his rookie season. Hamonic would like to continue in that mentor role this season, and it's easy to imagine that Tyler Kleven – another former North Dakota star – will need his guidance.
"We have a young group and I still think I can have a really important voice inside that locker room to help some of these younger players in their career," Hamonic said.
"And it's kind of come full circle at this point in my career. You want to make sure you continue to make a lasting impression on the ice, certainly, but off the ice with some of these younger players as well. And I know that does become your role at this point in your career. But I still feel like I've got some good hockey in me."
As for the bigger picture of the team's fortunes, after seven years without the playoffs, it's not easy to ask fans to be patient. Hamonic says a new culture doesn't happen overnight, especially with the massive amount of change throughout the organization in the last 18 months.
"How many people in their normal day to day lives change their culture immediately? It takes a while, right? But I do think you need the right pieces in place to drive that forward. And sometimes there's an opportunity to move it along a little bit faster when a coach comes in or something like that. So for us, I think it's a lot of anticipation for the season, us and every other team in the league and all the other fan bases.
"But we feel very confident about where we're at."
Despite his unflattering numbers last season, Hamonic's experience and renewed health might make him a little more valuable than people think. But for a team that can't stomach yet another poor start in the standings, Hamonic's bounce back, if it happens, must be immediate.
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