Senators start talks with Hammond

[Jasmine]

MONTREAL -- The Senators have opened talks with The Hamburglar to see if they can keep him from testing another drive-thru window on July 1.

Interesting times ahead.

Senators GM Bryan Murray told reporters at his end of season press conference last week the club would make goaltender Andrew Hammond a contract offer because of his remarkable run that led the club to the post-season and Postmedia Network has confirmed those talks are indeed underway.

No, nothing is imminent and it's not even known if talks between Hammond's Minny-based agent Dan Plante and Senators assistant GM Pierre Dorion have gotten serious. Yes, Hammond is about to be a UFA, but the season just ended over week ago and it's a long way to the June 26-27 NHL entry draft.

In the words of the legendary Bob Cole: "Relax, everybody relax."

Hammond's camp certainly doesn't sound like they're in any great hurry.

"I have been in touch with Ottawa, however nothing is imminent," Plante said in a text message early Monday morning. "Andrew is very hopeful to get something worked out to remain with the club."

This isn't going to be an easy contract for the Senators to negotiate.

http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/05/04/senators-start-talks-with-hammond

[Josh]

"testing another drive-thru window" :lol:

[Alfie11]

I'd imagine something around 2 years, $1.25M per year would get the job done.

[Josh]

I'd imagine something around 2 years, $1.25M per year would get the job done.

Maybe, but then he will most likely want a guaranteed (one-way) contract.

[Alfie11]

Maybe, but then he will most likely want a guaranteed (one-way) contract.

I think that's the breaking point in the convo. He'll be cheap, short term but he wants the one way deal to stay in the NHL. The Sens will have a situation to deal with ...

Is 20 games of great goaltending by Hammond enough to throw away your goalie of the future? Or are you going to throw away another goalie who played well in Ottawa for your goalie who could POTENTIALLY be good?

[Josh]

I think that's the breaking point in the convo. He'll be cheap, short term but he wants the one way deal to stay in the NHL. The Sens will have a situation to deal with ...

Is 20 games of great goaltending by Hammond enough to throw away your goalie of the future? Or are you going to throw away another goalie who played well in Ottawa for your goalie who could POTENTIALLY be good?

At first I was thinking that at $1.25M the Sens could just bury him in the AHL anyways (if he didn't perform) since it's so cheap, but then I realized he'd have to pass through waivers for a demotion to the AHL, right? What if he starts the year in Bingo?

Either way, I like this situation. I feel relatively confident in each of the goalies at this point. Anderson is underrated in my opinion. A lot of people were ready to abandon Lehner, but I think he still has a ton of promise. If we have to lose Hammond, I'm really not too worried.

[Matt the Aussie]

Anderson is legit one of the best goalies in the NHL. He's still relatively young by goalie terms (turning 34 in May).
Lehner, as much as he has sucked, is still only 23. The thing with Lehner is that he won the AHL trophy and was perhaps brought up too quickly.

With Hammond, I feel we'd like to keep him but someone out there will offer in the $2m range and it may be too tempting.

[Alfie11]

At first I was thinking that at $1.25M the Sens could just bury him in the AHL anyways (if he didn't perform) since it's so cheap, but then I realized he'd have to pass through waivers for a demotion to the AHL, right? What if he starts the year in Bingo?

Either way, I like this situation. I feel relatively confident in each of the goalies at this point. Anderson is underrated in my opinion. A lot of people were ready to abandon Lehner, but I think he still has a ton of promise. If we have to lose Hammond, I'm really not too worried.

He'd have to go through waivers to get to the AHL no matter what. It was the same with Hoffman before this season.

[Alfie11]

Anderson is legit one of the best goalies in the NHL. He's still relatively young by goalie terms (turning 34 in May).
Lehner, as much as he has sucked, is still only 23. The thing with Lehner is that he won the AHL trophy and was perhaps brought up too quickly.

With Hammond, I feel we'd like to keep him but someone out there will offer in the $2m range and it may be too tempting.

I agree with you and Josh - he's 23, and I'm not ready to give up on him yet. Although he has sucked, he has also shown potential in both the AHL and NHL.

TSN1200 was saying that he forced the Senators hand. They weren't really ready to bring him up yet (hence why they traded for Bishop instead of trusting him as a starter), but he was threatening to go oversees because he was tired of the AHL. The Sens basically decided bringing him up now would be better than losing him for absolutely nothing.

[Josh]

I agree with you and Josh - he's 23, and I'm not ready to give up on him yet. Although he has sucked, he has also shown potential in both the AHL and NHL.

TSN1200 was saying that he forced the Senators hand. They weren't really ready to bring him up yet (hence why they traded for Bishop instead of trusting him as a starter), but he was threatening to go oversees because he was tired of the AHL. The Sens basically decided bringing him up now would be better than losing him for absolutely nothing.

Well that is interesting, I didn't know that. I feel like Lehner still has the better pedigree compared to Hammond. But since I believe in Anderson so much, I'm really OK with either option and I guess whoever we can retain for longer/cheaper is the best option. Additionally, Lehner would potentially have more value due to his contract status. On the other hand, a sign-and-trade with Hammond might be the best bet for the Sens, but I see Murray as being too loyal to do that.

[Alfie11]

Well that is interesting, I didn't know that. I feel like Lehner still has the better pedigree compared to Hammond. But since I believe in Anderson so much, I'm really OK with either option and I guess whoever we can retain for longer/cheaper is the best option. Additionally, Lehner would potentially have more value due to his contract status. On the other hand, a sign-and-trade with Hammond might be the best bet for the Sens, but I see Murray as being too loyal to do that.

Yeah, I think a sign and trade would push away any potential free agents who would want to sign here, or possibly even our own players re-signing here.