Observations:

June 9th 2015 – Andrew Hammond signed a three year contract extension worth 1.35M a season on May 20th. The pay is back-loaded as Hammond makes 1.2M, 1.35M and 1.5M in each year respectively. Hammond was a great story in the NHL this year however the deal is both reasonable for a back up goaltender at only 1.35M a year and even if Andrew Hammond flames out the Senators would only be on the line for around .4M against the salary cap due to the Wade Redden rule. With the Hammond extension in it's all but a guarantee that one of Robin Lehner or Craig Andersen will be traded and 27 year old Hammond will start the year as the Senators back up. With both Andersen, with his health, and Lenher, with his consistency, having issues it wouldn't be inconceivable to see Hammond take over the net for short stretches during the 2015-2016 season. – Benjamin Gallant 

March 2015 – There is no NHL story this season quite as unlikely as that of rookie goaltender Andrew Hammond.   The former Bowling Green University standout had been struggling through a subpar year in Binghamton with a 3.51 GAA and a .898% save percentage, splitting time in net with journeyman goaltender Scott Greenham.  However, Hammond’s season changed on a dime when he was called into emergency service by Ottawa after Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner were lost to injury.  Since his recall, all Hammond has done is become the first goaltender to allow two goals or fewer in his first eleven starts since 1938.  With a record of 10-0-1 and a GAA of 1.39, the goaltender has put the Senators on his back down the stretch in their quest to make the playoffs. 

The small sample size is concerning, not only to potential fantasy owners but for the Senators as well.  Is the real Andrew Hammond the netminder who struggled in the AHL or the player who has won back to back NHL Three Stars of the Week awards?  The answer is more than likely somewhere in the middle.  With both Anderson and Lehner ahead of him on the depth chart (for now) heading into 2015-2016, monitor the Senators goaltending situation in the offseason.  Hammond could be back in the AHL, trade bait, or in a back-up role with the Sens if one of the goaltenders above him happened to be shipped out. Kevin Leblanc

Fantasy Outlook: B+

A very difficult talent to rank, but given his career numbers he is unlikely to sustain this play over a full season. If he impresses as a backup this season, he could start in 2016-17.

Footage:

Hammond robs Andrew Ladd:

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