Report: Islanders unlikely to deal Hamonic during season after injury to Boychuk

An injury to Johnny Boychuk is believed to have placed Travis Hamonic's trade request on the back burner.

While the full extent of Boychuk's upper-body isn't yet known, the New York Islanders are set to rely heavily on Hamonic to lock things down on the right side in his absence. This means the 25-year-old's preseason request to be moved closer to home - made public in November - appears unlikely to be met until season's end.

So far, there hasn't been movement on a possible deal for Hamonic, according to sources of Newsday's Arthur Staple.

Staple reports that if there are no offers that blow away GM Garth Snow between now and the trade deadline on Feb. 29, the "real time frame for a Hamonic trade starts in June."

From Hamonic's point of view, it's business as usual.

"I haven't really thought about it, to be honest with you," the defenseman told Staple on Saturday. "I know that's going to be hard for people to believe, but it's the truth. I'm an Islander and I'm proud to be an Islander. It's a big loss to not have Johnny out there but it doesn't change anything for me personally."

Hamonic averaged over 24 minutes in each of the past four contests heading into Saturday's matchup with Pittsburgh.