Andrew Hammond: Future Star or Patrick Lalime?

Andrew Hammond has started his NHL career with emphatic success. Projecting him beyond this season is anyone’s guess but there could be a precedent.

Andrew Hammond has made quite the name for himself filling in for the injured Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner. Starting your career 7-0-1 with a 1.43 GAA and .954 save percentage will get you noticed that way. What makes Hammond’s start more interesting is the team he is doing it with.

The Ottawa Senators have a recent history of moving on from productive goaltenders. Both Brian Elliott and Ben Bishop have gone on to post solid and at times spectacular numbers as starting goaltenders. In fact both Elliott and Bishop are on teams in the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning that are considered Stanley Cup contenders.

Which brings us back to Andrew Hammond and the Senators goaltending situation. Craig Anderson is the starter here and should be. He is the best of the current trio to include Hammond and Robin Lehner, whom is now out after a scary collision with teammate Clarke MacArthur on February 16th. But history has proven that doesn’t necessarily mean Anderson will stay so it’s worth considering the Senators season and the goalies under contract going forward.

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Andrew Hammond and his stellar play are the major reason the Senators are still within shouting distance of the Boston Bruins for the last wild card spot. While it’s a small sample size, Ottawa is still a very young team and this late run is a potential sign of near-term future success. With that in mind how likely are the Senators to look at moving either Anderson’s $4.2 million dollar extension over the next three years, or Lehner and his $2.225 million for the next two years?

If GM Bryan Murray believes the Senators will compete for a playoff spot more aggressively next season, moving Lehner would free up some extra cap space. Thought with a small sample size Murray could also give Andrew Hammond a qualifying offer as an RFA and try to get him more time to develop. But GM’s can be crazy about their goaltenders and it only takes one trade partner that believes Hammond can help their team now.

The puzzle of Andrew Hammond and his future could be projected with the career of Patrick Lalime. Recall Lalime started his career with a 14-0-2 mark for the Pittsburgh Penguins, still an NHL record for an unbeaten streak to start a career. Lalime finished his career with 200 NHL wins across five different teams and an All-Star in 2003. If Andrew Hammond winds up with that career arc it’s not a bad thing. Lalime was a successful goaltender in the NHL both as a starter and backup.

But goaltenders are groomed to hopefully be the next Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, Henrik Lundqvist or Jonathan Quick. General managers want to hit a home run with every pick. Goaltenders take longer to develop and at 27 the time may be now to find out what Andrew Hammond is made of. Given the history of the Ottawa Senators in moving goalies I think Murray will try to make room for Hammond with the Senators as a backup behind Anderson. If I’m Robin Lehner, I might want to keep my real estate agent on notice.

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