Rumour: Canucks attempt to avoid suspension when it comes to Travis Hamonic

At the beginning of the month, the Vancouver Canucks made it clear that defenseman Travis Hamonic was not opting out of the NHL season, but had yet to join the team. He never showed up at camp and was waived last weekend and then re-assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks after no other NHL club put in a claim for him.

But he never showed up at Abbotsford either and was not listed on the AHL Canucks’ season-opening roster.

When GM Jim Benning tried to let fans and media in on what was going on with Hamonic, he mentioned that he “remains at home, dealing with some personal matters” and that the team “continues to support him.”

The Vancouver Province now wonders if the Canucks are not protecting Hamonic, who might be trying to avoid suspension when it comes to unvaccinated players.

“Hamonic has been absent from the Canucks’ camp since the beginning of training camp. The team has never confirmed why he’s absent beyond “personal matters,” but sources have repeatedly indicated that his absence is related to the league’s COVID-19 vaccination protocol.

The protocol places heavy restrictions on unvaccinated players — on the road, they have to remain in the team hotel and as well as adding complications for the rest of the (vaccinated) team, like having to wear masks while in the dressing room with the unvaccinated player.”

The Canucks were able to declare that the NHL roster was 100 per cent vaccinated ahead of the season, and some folks saw this as a sign that Hamonic had refused to get the shots.

On Friday, the Canucks told Postmedia that Hamonic’s status “remains the same.” He hasn’t been suspended, despite not showing up in Abbotsford. Hamonic chose not to opt out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns, which he did do in 2020, long before a vaccine was available.

Could The Province be right on this?

Hamonic signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Canucks in July, but we have no clue when he will play. By re-assigning Hamonic to the AHL, the Canucks reduced the veteran defenceman’s cap hit by just over $1.2 million… could this be why Benning is not sharing more on his blue liner’s status in order to avoid suspension and his full salary back on the cap?