POINT BLANK Q&A: TRAVIS HAMONIC
On playing physical and the hometown Jets
Earlier this week I had a chance to talk to Isles defenseman and Manitoba native Travis Hamonic. Travis talked a bit of self-evaluation, about his physical style and what it will be like to face the new incarnation of his hometown team.
KS: Can you talk about, through the first nine games, how you feel you’ve played so far? What your strengths and weaknesses have been?
TH: I think I’ve played pretty well and I’ve just tried to be consistent game in and game out. Maybe not being the most flashy guy on the ice but just trying to do the little things. That’s something I take pride in — maybe for the average fan they don’t pick up on the little details that I do throughout a game. That’s obviously an element and something I try to bring myself to have every game. I think that over the first nine games I’ve played pretty well but in saying that obviously I could help out and chip in a little bit more.
KS: What are those ‘little details’ that we may not see that you notice?
TH: Well, the first word that comes to mind is ‘habits’ and just tracking back to the net. You know, the little details that you need to have to be a consistent player in this league and that’s something I try to pride myself in. I try to bring the physical play as well, trying to be a physical presence on the ice and try to establish myself in games. I think defensively and offensively both, I’ve been very sound. I haven’t put up as many points as I maybe would have liked to during the first nine games of the year but those things are going to come. I just want to contribute in any way that I possibly can.
KS: As a physical defenseman, does it help having Milan back in the lineup, as somebody else who is physical?
TH: Yeah of course, as a committee out there, I think we need to be physical as a committee. I think there’s being physical and then there’s being smart physical and I think that we all have that have that especially on the back end. You can’t be running around out there trying to find that big hit. Sometimes it’s just those little [hits] that you have to do. That’s part of being physically engaging in the game as well. Having Juice back in the lineup helps a lot, a big body presence.
KS: As somebody who made the transition from the AHL to the NHL last year, how does it feel having a full year up here?
TH: Last year was a great learning experience for me. I came in and I thought I played pretty well and just tried to get better from day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month last year. I think I did that. I proved that I can play at this level. This year, I really want to take my career to the next step and head in the right direction. Obviously, I have a lot more expectations personally on myself. Nobody will be able to put more expectations and expect more from me, than myself… Having that full year of confidence has definitely helped me out a lot.
KS: With the Jets coming in on Thursday, and you’re from Manitoba, how does that feel to play them?
TH: That’s kinda cool. I grew up a Jets fan and I remember going to all the Jets games. I was 7 when we had the big Jets rally in Winnipeg to try and save the team and over 300,000 people showed up to the Jets rally. But you know, not really remembering what was going on cause I was so young but I just remember waves of people. It was a pretty neat experience. Actually, my mom is going to be at the game here on Thursday, so she’s excited. It’s gonna be weird playing the Winnipeg Jets.
KS: Are you excited to go up to Winnipeg and play?
TH: You know it. I’ve had that one circled on the calendar a little bit. It will be an exciting time. I think the city of Winnipeg is excited to have the team back and you can tell by the response its been getting around the city. Whenever I talk to my family and friends back home there’s a lot of roar about the Jets. It’s going to be a great atmosphere. I’m very happy and excited to be going there as an Islander to play against the Jets. I love being an Islander and it’s going to be an exciting time to go up there and try to get the two points.
About Kevin Schultz
Kevin was formerly an NHL blogger for the now defunct AOL Fanhouse and was the creator of the hockey comedy blog Barry Melrose Rocks. He now covers the Isles for Islanders Point Blank. You can follow him for instant updates on the team and talk hockey with him on Twitter @schultz88. View all posts by Kevin Schultz →26 Responses to POINT BLANK Q&A: TRAVIS HAMONIC
On playing physical and the hometown Jets
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PotvinRocks says:
Streit and Hamonic have been our best defenseman so far this year. He is really proving that he will be a top pair defenseman in this league for a long time. Good interview.
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Real hockey fan says:
.. Travis is a good young player with a good head on his shoulder, he also does some of the lil things that dont show up in the boxscores
.. I do think when he eventually develops(remember folks, hes a 21 year old Dman, hes a puppy!!) he will really be a solid NHL dman, remember there are not many “physical Dman in todays game due to the new rules
.. I think hes capable of chipping in 20-30 pts or so as a dman, and getting 120-150 PIM and playing physical and being a REAL presence on the ice. I REALLY REALLY like the kid
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Dan C. says:
” I think hes capable of chipping in 20-30 pts or so as a dman, and getting 120-150 PIM and playing physical and being a REAL presence on the ice.”
Um, didn’t he already do all that in 60 games last season?
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Nick M says:
The isles are going to have a solid top 4 with the next year and a half. Hamonic, Dehaan, Amac, Mayfield. That is why I am opposed to trade about the farm for just one guy but on the other hand that is same reason why i also feel that bailey Comeau ness wishart are beyond expendable including a few picks.
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Paul says:
Islander fans need to stop writing in everyone of Snow’s picks as sure things. It is not going to happen.
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Islesfan91 says:
I love the way this kid plays the game!!
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Strummer's Army says:
I love Hamonic! Wish Isles had more guys like him on offense and defense. Isles future D is exciting with Hamonic, Mayfield, DeHaan, Pedan, & maybe MacDonald. Right now Isles would be picking 3rd overall in the draft. I thought the rebuild was over (but then I saw the roster they broke camp with PA on top line, Mottau, Eaton, Pandalfo etc. and I knew it wasn’t). Plenty of good forwards and numerous very talented D-men available. I really like this Griffin Rienhart. Big D-man, who has skill, can skate, and fight. Says he models his game after Shea Weber and that is who the scouts say he reminds them of. He’s rated 11th or 12th overall now, and their are some d-men rated higher but hope. I see Isles have assets to obtain D help but most teams won’t trade those type of D-men.
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Bob E. says:
are we really talking 2012 draft already? season just started Strummer
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Hamonic is the man. We should stop wasting time using Staios in top pairing. Put Hammer with Streit. Macdonald with Jurcina and Eaton and Staios. Maybe our 5 on 5 stats will improve.
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DD says:
LOVE Hamonic (we call him ‘babyface’), he is very responsible and poised out there and there is every reason to believe he’ll get even better as the years go by.
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Stumpy32 says:
Every game, I try hard not to wince at guys like Mottau, Eaton, and Staios, knowing that a ton of promising young D-men are on the horizon. Seeing what Hamonic is capable of makes me more excited. The guy literally became an impact player the minute he got off the bus from Bridgeport. A truly fantastic find…you notice him – positively – every game. One of the few physical players we have, and you can tell a difference in the flow of the opposing offense when he’s in. Hope to see him in a leadership role soon.
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Gene F says:
promising, future, patience, potential – i am really sick and tired of these words
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Danfromouteast says: Right there with you bro. This team sucks. They’ve been rebuilding for twenty years. To the point the pieces they were rebuilding with are over thirty playing on other WINNING teams.
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Darren says:
DP starting tonight. Whats up with Al?
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“promising, future, patience, potential – i am really sick and tired of these words”
Agreed. I’m also tired of all the people that are still pumping up de Haan, who can’t crack this team that has little legit defensive depth. Meanwhile, Dmitri Kulikov, who was the top-rated defenseman on the board when the Isles made the de Haan pick is going into his 3rd NHL season.
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Danfromouteast says:
Im sick if the BS as well.
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Jerry says:
P.Rinne just got $49 mil over 7 years, no way they can afford Suter or Weber, maybe we can convince Garth that Suter is related to Sutter, i’m just saying
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Claude says:
This kid is going to be aggressively sought when he becomes a FA . Unless this storied francise is playoff contending team , he and his agent will bolt.
Who would blame him -
I think the team plays better with dp betweent the pipes
They back check and clear the front of net . Not knowing which dp will show terrifys them -
Ryan says:
I can’t wait to watch tonight’s game on MSG+2. Why is it that this channel looks worse than my 20 inch TV looked in 1988? Has anyone ever gotten anything more than a generic response from cablevision on why it’s not in HD? Also, I’m obviously biased being an Isles fan, buy why is it that we are always shoved to that horrible channel to make room for the Devils? I’ve lived in NJ all of my life, and the Devils have no juice here, and certainly none in NY, even while being a cup contender for the last 15 years. They don’t even sell out their playoff games. Maybe things will be different when the Isles are a more proven winner…at least I hope.
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Well this funny…the game is in HD! Thank you cablevision, I have to go wipe some egg off of my face now.
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Danfromouteast says:
Man aside from a SMALL handful of players this team plain out sucks. They can make any team look great. They can’t even get it in an open net. Okposo sucks bailey sucks and I think sucking is contagious. I’d rather watch Bridgeport at least they play with passion. Please bench a bunch of these losers or trade them. This cannot gi on any longer. If this season goes the way it gas been for the past fifteen years or so who really cares if they leave they suck anyway. And no im not a crappy fan I’ve been a fan since the seventies. This team is now the joke of the NHL and it shouldn’t be just me it should be all of us that is tired of the same old crap we are fed year after year.
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Danfromouteast says:
The way the offense plays DP has a better chance to score then these slugs.
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John says:
Ch 414 on IO has a better picture….but these guys are really pissing me off. Stop trying to make the perfect pass or perfect play. Shoot the god damn puck!
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Joe NYC says:
1st – anyone know if this is on in HD on TimeWarner in NYC?
2nd – New arena in Island Park????
Great interview KS. Hamonic sounds very mature for being such a young player. He sounds very confident but also knows that he needs to keep improving. I like this guy a lot and think he is going to be a stud on the Islanders for many years.