Just IMO, but Hamonic would easily be the 2nd best d-man on the Av's, and would be a huge upgrade for the team. I don't see how the fact that him not being better than EJ impacts that overall trade at all. And Hamonic is a WORLDS better d-man than Barrie IMO.
I consider EJ a legit #1 dman, and there are probably 20-25 guys who I'd consider upgrades. On what planet is Duchene worth a guy who be a significant upgrade on EJ?
I see a trade like this would have the opportunity to fill 2 or 3 holes on the roster, and only open up 1. If they could get Hamonic + 1st + good prospect, they help solidify the blueline, and add 2 other potential asset that can fill the many holes on the Avs roster.
Please note I'm not saying trade MD for 3 stiffs. I consider Hamonic a legit top pairing dman, and the 1st & prospect could both help fill the many other holes on the Av's roster. Just my $.02.
Barrie is underrated. Hamonic really is not worlds better overall. And I wouldn't call Hamonic a legit top pairing D either. He sure can play it but he is not one of the top end #2 Ds in this league.
I think Barrie and EJ on the right side would be a very good combination if the LHDs and bottom pairing wouldn't consist of guys that should be on the second pairing in the AHL right now (like it did for the Avs for the last few years).
EJ - Hamonic - Zadorov IMO does not have enough offense and puckmoving ability to form a great D core. Zads has potential in that department but he is not there yet and just go injured unfortunately.
To me Hamonic is simply a worse version of EJ. That is nice to have but you really shouldn't give up Duchene for him if you already have EJ. Especially when you have a guy like Meloche also being in the AHL next year who also is a defensive oriented RHD.
Add that both Barrie and EJ combine for 11.5 M in salary and there is no way that this deal wouldn't lead to some sort of follow up deal. Which kind of defeats the point of moving Duchene in the first place.
I don't want to lose Barrie and Duchene just to accomodate a deal involving Hamonic that I don't even like.
Honestly the 1st and prospect does not even matter to me all that much. It has to be there in this deal because of a lack of overall value otherwise but it really shouldn't be the main selling point in any deal. Especially if it is a 2017 1st.
Avs have a chance to set up their D for the foreseeable future if they get those Duchene/Landy situations right.
If Sakic can get one of Hanifin / Chabot / Chychrun or even Sergachev (although I think he is pretty risky) or McAvoy (RHD but he has the potential to replace one of Barrie/ EJ and make it worth it for the Avs), the Avs could set themselves up very nicely for the future.
One of those guys + Zadorov + Bigras on the left side + EJ + Barrie + Meloche on the right side would be a very decent group going forward.
If you bring in Hamonic and trade Barrie or EJ, you will still have a gaping hole on the left side next to the guy that does not get to play with Zadorov and no real way to adress it.
And I would really like to fill that
To me Hamonic does not make any sense. Avs would get older and not really fill a need while losing their best trading chip by far.