Detroit ― The Detroit Red Wings are adding to their depth on defense.
The Wings on Friday announced the signing of defenseman Travis Hamonic to a one-year, $1 million contract.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Hamonic, who turns 35 on Saturday, has played 15 NHL seasons, including the last three-plus with the Ottawa Senators. He appeared in 59 games last season, collecting seven points (six assists) and a minus-16 plus-minus rating. He averaged 17 minutes, 4 seconds in ice time per game.
Hamonic, a second-round draft pick by the New York Islanders in 2008, has appeared in 900 regular-season games, registering 53 goals and 189 assists, with stints with the Islanders, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks before joining the Senators via trade in March 2022.
Hamonic wasn’t signed for any sort of offensive upgrade. He’s an old-school defensive defenseman, who can kill penalties and blocks shots.
The signing by general manager Steve Yzerman now gives coach Todd McLellan eight NHL defensemen on the Wings’ roster.
Hamonic is a right-hand shot, joining Moritz Seider, Justin Holl and Jacob-Bernard Docker on that side. The left side is currently manned by Ben Chiarot, Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson and Erik Gustafsson ― though Johansson and Holl can comfortably play either side. Johansson paired with Edvinsson last season and formed an effective defensive pairing.
Hamonic, seemingly, will battle for playing time on the third pairing and be veteran insurance, as the Wings are expected to carry eight defensemen.
Friday’s signing likely erases any chance of Axel Sandin-Pellikka, the Wings’ 2023 first-round draft pick, of making the opening-night roster. The offensive defenseman turned pro last spring and played three playoff games with minor league affiliate Grand Rapids.
But the 5-foot-11, 176-pound Sandin-Pellikka likely needs more time, and develop more strength, to play the more physical and faster North American pro game.
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
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