The Hamburglar has hung up his cape. Andrew Hammond announced his retirement from professional hockey on Twitter Monday, explaining that he suffered an ankle injury during his time in Montreal and isn’t able to fully recover. Hammond played four games for the Canadiens last season before ending up on injured reserve and getting traded to the New Jersey Devils.
The ankle injury may explain the stark difference in performance between the two stops. He had a .920 save percentage for Montreal, and an .860 for the Devils following the trade. After two games in the KHL this year, he terminated his contract and returned to North America.
He’ll go out with a career .916 save percentage in the NHL, mostly fueled by the unforgettable 20-1-2 run with the Ottawa Senators in 2014-15. A young, undrafted netminder stepped into the spotlight when Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner were unavailable, carrying the Senators to a playoff spot with an incredible stretch run.
Entering a game on Feb. 16 in relief of Lehner, he allowed two goals on his first five shots. It looked as though the team’s postseason hopes were dashed, but starting two nights later, he would go on a run of 15 straight games without losing in regulation.
The .943 save percentage he posted over the final 23 appearances would not only get the Senators to a playoff spot, finishing three points ahead of the Boston Bruins for fourth place in the Atlantic, but it would earn Hammond Vezina and Hart Trophy votes. He would play just 42 more games in his NHL career.
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