(Vancouver) Defenseman Travis Hamonic returned with the Vancouver Canucks after missing the start of the season due to personal issues.
The 31-year-old Hamonic spoke to the media on Monday, after training with his teammates for the first time this season. He mentioned that he was following the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols.
Hamonic declined to specify what had kept him away from the Canucks (3-5-1), only indicating that he was going through an “extremely difficult period”.
Canucks head coach Travis Green said Hamonic would be fully vaccinated “soon” and could be included in the roster as early as Tuesday, when the Vancouver team host the New York Rangers.
Hamonic played 38 games with the Canucks last season, recording three goals and 10 points.
He signed a two-year, US $ 6 million contract with the Canucks in July, but was not in Vancouver when the team entered training camp on September 24. He was granted temporary leave on October 18 and was demoted to the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League.
Hamonic met in Abbotsford on Saturday before being called up to the NHL on Monday. Rookie defenseman Jack Rathbone has been demoted to the American League.
Hamonic played 675 games in 11 NHL seasons with the Canucks, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders.