Andrew Hammond makes his NHL return after signing a one year deal

The Hamburgler is back, baby!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Andrew Hammond makes his NHL return after signing a one year deal
Zuma Press

The Minnesota Wild have announced that they've signed unrestricted free agent goalie Andrew "The Hamburgler" Hammond to a one year contract worth $700,000. Also worth noting that the team announced backup goaltender Alex Stalock is out indefinitely with an upper body injury. It's expected that Hammond will slot in behind Cam Talbot, who signed on to be the team's new starting goaltender earlier this offseason. Don't forget that longtime Wild starter Devan Dubnyk was traded to the San Jose Sharks earlier this offseason

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The 32 year old Hammond went 16-12-3 with a 2.53 goals against average (GAA) and a .908 save percentage in 33 games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL last season. This is The Hamburglar's second stint with the Wild franchise, having played 33 games with the team's AHL affiliate Iowa Wild in 2018-19. He put up a 19-12-2 record in 33 regular season games and an impressive 2.46 goals against average and .912 save percentage with two shutouts in 11 Calder Cup Playoff games with the team that season. 

Of course, Hammond is mostly known for his historic run with the Ottawa Senators in 2015 when he went 14-0-1 with a 1.58 GAA, a .949 SV% and two shutouts in his first 15 NHL starts with Ottawa and became the second goaltender in NHL history to allow two goals or less in his first 12 starts (Frank Brimsek, 1938-39). He finished that 2014-15 season with a 20-1-2 record and a 1.79 GAA, a .942 SV% and four shutouts in 24 games (23 starts) and was named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 

Unfortunately, Hammond never recaptured the heights of his NHL career and has struggled to remain in the NHL ever since. Regardless, he's still a quality veteran with plenty of pro experience whom the Wild can rely on should Talbot either go down with injury or has a tough time adjusting to his new team. If nothing else, Hammond will provide the team with some quality depth in the AHL once Stalock recovers from his injury and returns to the Wild's active roster.