Defenseman Travis Hamonic is a 15-year NHL veteran who has played in 900 NHL games. However, the 2024-25 season with the Ottawa Senators was a big struggle for the 34-year-old.
Hamonic recorded seven points and a -16 rating while playing in 59 games for the Senators. Hamonic's -16 rating was the lowest among the whole Senators roster in 2024-25. Hamonic didn't play in the 2025 playoffs for the Senators.
Not playing in the 2025 playoffs and having season struggles put Hamonic's future in Ottawa up in the air at the end with being an unrestricted free agent. Despite struggles, Hamonic spoke highly of the Senators and the city of Ottawa at the end of the season, but free agency has been a struggle so far for the veteran defenseman.
Hamonic still unsigned in free agency
One defenseman that didn't return to Ottawa was Dennis Gilbert, who signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Gilbert to Philadelphia was one of the first moves to happen within the Senators. Losing Gilbert may not have been a huge impact for the Senators as he only played in four games after being traded over in March.
Re-signing Hamonic to have defensive depth would've been a valid reason for the Senators. However, the defenseman remains unsigned in free agency.
The Senators have seven defensemen under contract for the 2025-26 season after they traded for Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings. Trading for Spence may have impacted the Senators' decision to not re-sign Hamonic when free agency began.
Hamonic went unsigned after day one of free agency frenzy, and still remains unsigned. It seems general manager Steve Staios is trusting Nikolas Matinpalo to be Ottawa's seventh defenseman after having International play in 2025.
A way how Hamonic could get signed this free agency is if a team needs to add some defensive help. Hamonic's experience can be important for a team, but chances can be low for Ottawa given its defensive players on the roster for 2025-26.