Andrew Hammond will make his first NHL start in almost four years when the Montreal Canadiens visit the New York Islanders on Sunday.
The 34-year-goalie, who was acquired by the Canadiens in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 12, is 27-15-6 with a 2.31 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and four shutouts in 56 NHL games (49 starts) with the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche but has not played in the NHL since his only regular-season start with the Avalanche on March 28, 2018.
Hammond spent last season with the Wild on their taxi squad.
"Last year was difficult at times, but I think it gave me a good opportunity to get ready for this moment so when I do play I feel like I'll be ready," Hammond said Saturday. "… Last year I learned a lot about just staying ready and being ready for opportunities when they come your way, and I think I've kind of taken that lesson with me this year, and it's kind of unfolded here in the last week. I'm honestly just so excited to play when I do."
Hammond has backed up Sam Montembeault the past two games for Montreal, but coach Martin St. Louis said he would start Sunday.
"You've got a player like that who didn't play in the NHL in the last three and a half or four years but has continued to work on his game and his attitude," St. Louis said. "He's a guy who seems to love hockey and it's great to give a chance to players like that who keep on working. We give him a chance to come back in the NHL and he's got an opportunity tomorrow."
In 2014-15, Hammond was 20-1-2 with a 1.79 GAA, .941 save percentage and three shutouts as a rookie for the Senators. With the nickname "The Hamburglar," he helped Ottawa reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs after they were 14 points out of the last spot in the Eastern Conference on Feb. 10.
Hammond played 24 games for the Senators the following season before playing seven NHL games over the next two seasons.
"Even after my first year when I went to Colorado (2017-18) and played in the playoffs (three games), I've had success again," Hammond said. "So I think it just kind of perpetuates the inner belief I have in myself that I can play in this league and play well. If you don't believe in yourself, no one else is going to. All I can do is keep kind of showing up and play as best as I can and keep trying to prove people wrong."
The Canadiens are without their top two goalies: Carey Price has not played this season because of a knee injury, and Jake Allen is out with a lower-body injury. Cayden Primeau (1-7-1, 4.88 GAA, .866 save percentage) and Montembeault (3-10-4, 3.81 GAA, .895 save percentage) have played in their absence. Primeau was sent to Laval of the American Hockey League after Hammond was acquired.
"Absolutely, all of us are doing our part and this will reduce my workload," Montembeault said after the trade. "And with my recent (wrist) injury, that will allow me to rest it a bit more. [Hammond] is an excellent NHL goalie."
Hammond was 6-2-3 with a 2.44 GAA, .908 save percentage and three shutouts in 11 games with Iowa of the AHL this season. He has played 95 AHL games since the 2017-18 season.
"[The NHL] is the best league in the world," Hammond said. "Playing in the AHL gives you the best opportunity to try and [get] back here and get a chance, and the last few years, it just hasn't happened. … I still want to play in this league, I think I can play well. Having that self-belief has kind of driven me to keep wanting to keep trying."
The Canadiens (9-33-7) are last in the NHL standings and have allowed the most goals per game (3.94). They were outscored 52-23 losing 10 straight games prior to a 3-2 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
"It's worked out to this point where I've stuck with it," Hammond said. "… Things haven't always necessarily come easy and it's taken a little bit longer than it would for some other people, but for me it's just kind of worked out this way. Having this be the next chapter, I don't think it's completely unusual for it to play out this way."
St. Louis said Hammond could be a mentor to the younger players, including Montembeault, 25, and Primeau, 22.
"He's a guy with experience, not only on the ice, but in the locker room," St. Louis said. "I'm sure he could give some good advice to Montembeault if he feels that Montembeault needs it. When you've been in hockey for so long, you're usually a good teammate. I'm sure that he will be able to help the young [players] and communicate with Montembeault. I think he does it when he has the chance."
Hammond said, "I'm all ears if they have questions and will help as much as I can. It is something that I enjoy doing. I'm in a unique situation where I've played lots of games in a row, I've been a backup in this league and not played often, and I've been in different situations, so any questions they have I can kind of relate to it a little bit."
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