Andrew Hammond saved the Ottawa Senators' season. On Wednesday, the team rewarded its surprisingly successful goalie with a contract extension.
The team confirmed it agreed to terms with Hammond on a three-year extension . It is worth $4.05 million, according to Canada's Sportsnet .
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With the Senators on the verge of playoff elimination, in reality if not mathematically, Hammond arrived when goalies Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner were injured. In one of the greatest regular-season rallies in recent memory, the Sens climbed into the playoffs behind their fill-in goalie.
Hammond went 20-1-2 and had a 1.73 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.
He created a legend, known in Ottawa as the "Hamburglar" for his exploits. For a time, fans threw hamburgers on the ice after a Hammond victory.
According to reports, Hammond's contract averages $1.35 million per season, at $1.2 million, $1.35 million and $1.5 million.
The immediate upshot: Expect the Senators to cut ties with one of their goalies. Anderson has a long-term contract and the Senators have Lehner under their control through the 2017-18 season. The team also signed Matt O'Connor, who came off a solid season with Boston University, as an undrafted free agent.
Before his stunning season, Hammond was a hockey journeyman. At 27, he spent four years at Bowling Green and appeared in one Senators game in 2013-14, for a total of 35 minutes.
Expect Lehner to be the odd man out. Teams already at expressing interest in him — the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres, according to The Ottawa Sun.
The trade would come as no shock. GM Bryan Murray told media members at his season-ending chat one of his goalies would be dealt if Hammond signed.
Lehner, who missed part of the 2014-15 season with a concussion, is the most logical choice.
"We will make an offer to [Hammond] and we'll see if he's interested, willing to accept what we have for him. If that happens, if he does then obviously there'll be a change with one of the other two guys," Murray said.