Goaltender Andrew Hammond’s stint in Montreal was short, but it allowed him to reconnect with the National Hockey League, in addition to getting a chance elsewhere, he who was traded to the New Jersey Devils on Monday during the trade deadline.
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According to the words of the general manager of the “Devils” Tom Fitzgerald, the 34-year-old athlete is not only there to warm up a seat on the bench of his family.
“We wanted to have competition in the position, had indicated Fitzgerald in a press conference, after acquiring the masked man. We now have three guys who will be competing in goal, which is important.
“He is still nursing an injury, but this is an opportunity for him. He’ll have the opportunity to play when he’s ready and grab the net and push everyone to be their best.”
The Devils have had all sorts of troubles in net in 2021-22. If Hammond takes part in a game, he will become the seventh goalkeeper to don the colors of the Devils this campaign, they who have also used the services of Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier, both injured, Scott Wedgewood, first traded to the Arizona Coyotes, before they sent him to the Dallas Stars on Monday, as well as youngsters Nico Daws, Akira Schmid and Jon Gillies, all of whom came to relieve the three mentioned above.
Hammond could also be of great help to the other goalkeepers of the organization, he who immediately becomes the dean of the group.
“I heard he was a great person and a good teammate,” Fitzgerald added. He’s an older player, who will probably have a calming influence. He should be useful to a guy like Nico Daws, as a mentor, and even help Blackwood, just because of his experience.
“He was a number three keeper for a long time and he is that kind of guy who can go in front of goal and stop the bleeding until the number two keeper comes back.”
The CH had obtained Hammond from the Minnesota Wild on February 12 in order to send Cayden Primeau back to the Laval Rocket, in the American League, to better continue his development.
Hammond’s arrival also allowed Jake Allen to treat his injury with peace of mind, although he has since returned to the game.
In just over a month in La Belle Province, Hammond had the chance to play his first game in nearly four years in the National League.
If he has 60 career games in the Bettman circuit, in addition to having preserved a record of 30-15-6, a goals against average of 2.32 and a save percentage of .923, it is especially his time with the Ottawa Senators, in 2014-2015, which allowed the “Hamburglar” to be known to the general public. He went 20-1-2 with a 1.79 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.