New Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic discussed his decision to sign with the Detroit Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent yesterday, and the Detroit News’s Mark Falkner took note of the defenseman’s take on the similarities between the Red Wings and his former employer, the Ottawa Senators:
“In the last year or so, the young players (in Ottawa) took another step in their careers, their development and responsibilities on the ice and they kind of drove the team forward last year,” Hamonic said. “I think there are a lot of similarities between the two teams. The fan base in Ottawa was very eager to make the playoffs and they had been out a while. As we came down the stretch, they had a huge impact on the team.
“For us in Detroit, we obviously want to get off to a good start, as does every other team in the league, and then just keep building throughout the season. When you just keep that singular focus, building week-by-week, or game-by-game, from Game 1 to Game 82, the bigger picture will take care of itself. It seems this group is really ready for that challenge and opportunity and the fan base is hungry for the playoffs as well.”
Hamonic, a second-round draft pick by the Islanders in 2008 and a Memorial Cup finalist with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League in 2010, will reunite with former Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker, when they attend the opening of training camp in Traverse City on Sept. 18.
Docker, 25, signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Red Wings on July 1, 2025. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound blueliner split the season with Ottawa and the Buffalo Sabres, picking up eight points in 50 games.
“JBD is first and foremost a great teammate and player,” Hamonic said. “He’s got some sneaky skill, plays hard. He’s not the biggest guy but he’s competitive, he moves well and he’s someone who can make solid plays. When he’s feeling confident, leading the rush and making plays, he’s a good player. He had that injury last season and I think it was hard to get going. I think the fans in Detroit are going to see a young player with a bright future.”
As for his own game…
“I feel very confident where my game is at,” Hamonic said. “The last couple of seasons in Ottawa, my roles have kind of been a little bit of everything. I thought I had a good season and played well and this upcoming season I’m just kind of ready to do whatever is asked of me, be a good player, a good teammate, and push for playing time.
“For us, as an opposing player, it was always a hard game against Detroit, the skill, the speed up front, you’ve got some really young-skilled defenseman on the backend, it made it a very desirable place for me as a player. From everyone I’ve spoken to in Detroit and the surrounding area, it’s great for families and great to be away from the rink. Obviously, it was a no-brainer for me and my family. We’re quite excited.”
Hamonic continued while speaking with MLive’s Ansar Khan…
“[I hope to] bring some physicality on the back end, be solid on the penalty kill, blocking shots, doing some of those not-so-pretty jobs sometimes, some of the jobs that hurt,” Hamonic said. “But when you got to block a shot, it’s your turn to take a hit to make a play, maybe not a flashy play, but just a smart play that’s going to benefit the team in that moment.”
The Red Wings signed Hamonic, 35, to a one-year, $1 million contract on Aug. 15 after he spent the past 3½ seasons with the Senators. He’s part of a crowded blue line featuring eight NHL D-men.
“It’s going to be competitive and I’m there to push and earn my ice time,” Hamonic said. “I know what’s expected of me and what I have to do to get in the lineup and stay in the lineup. I think when you have that competitiveness mixed in with that cohesiveness as a defensive unit, that’s when you get the best out of everybody and you are going to need everybody throughout the course of the season.”
Hamonic continued discussing his game before pivoting to the reasons why he signed in Detroit:
“We want to get in, we want to make some noise and take that next step,” Hamonic said. “I’m ready to do what I have to do to be a good teammate and contribute. I still believe I have some good hockey in front of me.”
This is the first time he’s had to wait this long to find a team, but he’s excited for the opportunity.
“It’s one of those cities and one of those organizations where you come in and it’s a ‘wow’ factor every single time,” Hamonic said. “Whether it was early on in my career at Joe Louis or now at Little Caesars, to be part of an Original Six is something I think every player wants to have the chance.
“When you mix that in with the team and where they’re at … as an opposing player, it was always a hard game against Detroit. The speed, the skill up front, some really good, young, skilled defensemen. It made it a very desirable place for me.”
Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Hamonic’s advice to his new teammates as well:
“For the team in Detroit, for us as a group, I think we just obviously want to get off to a good start, as does every other team in the league,” Hamonic said. “And then just keep building throughout the season.
“I think you just keep that singular focus of just building week by week or game by game, from Game 1 to Game 82. Keep breaking it down in segments and put your best foot forward every single day in practice and in games.”
Forget about the big picture. Focus on right now.
“I think the overall picture will take care of itself if you’re doing the right things day to day, and you will continue to grow,” Hamonic said.
Last season was his second in Ottawa. He watched as the nucleus of young talent – players like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, and Ridly Greig – took a significant step forward and became not only contributors, but leaders on the ice.
“In the last year or so, just the growth of some of the young players, the maturity of some of the young players, they all seem to really take another step forward in their career and their development and their responsibilities on the ice,” Hamonic said. “They kind of drove the team forward last year. As we came down the stretch, they played a huge impact on the team, pushing us to make the playoffs.”
