Nobody knew about Andrew Hammond until this season, but then injuries hit. Hammond stepped in and he performed over the expectations that Ottawa had set for him. He even won the starting job, and now Hammond has been rewarded with a new contract. After the team and he agreed on a 3 year deal worth $4.05 million contract extension, he is going to be making 1.35 million dollars per season.
After taking over for Robin Lehner and Craig Anderson he had a record of 20-1-2 GAA of 1.79 and a save percentage of .941. Those are superstar stats for someone who we never really heard of until this season. Once he got on the ice he proved that he is the team's number 1 goalie; he is great in the net, and he knows how to make the saves when he has got to make them.
Ottawa got a great deal out of this, and they are getting a great goalie on a low money deal. They are hoping that Hammond can produce the same numbers that he did last season. If he does that then this is a steal of a contract for someone that has posted superstar stats. From Hammond's perspective, he wants to prove that he can play in the league. Even though he is a good goalie this was only his first year as the starter. He has to prove that he can do it season after season, and if he can do that he will be able to earn a bigger and better contract after his current one ends.
He will be going in to a great training camp with other goalies that want to become the starter for the Senators. In Robin Lehner and Craig Anderson, Hammond will have to outperform them in the offseason and during the preseason. They might split time in the regular season, and if they do that Hammond will have to outperform them there too. If he can do that we will be looking at the newest and legitimate number 1 starter of the Ottawa Senators. Either Lehner or Anderson will be either traded or cut from the team if that happens