Hammond Versus Anderson

[ColinM]

So is too early to sort out whether the Sens try to re-sign Andrew Hammond or do we chalk the Senators surge up to the play in front of him? Although Hammond has an awesome record in the last 20 games, it is a small sample size and I think re-signing him would force the Sens to trade Lehner or Anderson away for draft picks since I'm not sure there's a huge trade market for goaltenders right now.

 

[BURG]

So is too early to sort out whether the Sens try to re-sign Andrew Hammond or do we chalk the Senators surge up to the play in front of him? Although Hammond has an awesome record in the last 20 games, it is a small sample size and I think re-signing him would force the Sens to trade Lehner or Anderson away for draft picks since I'm not sure there's a huge trade market for goaltenders right now.

If I had to guess right now I would say that the Senators will sign Hammond and deal Anderson or Lehner in the off-season. Edmonton should be looking for a goalie and I am sure they would be interested in Lehner and/or Anderson.

 

[northernlou]

The way Hammond has played you can't let him go.

 

[ColinM]

The way Hammond has played you can't let him go.

There's always a price though. Hammond is a UFA after the year is up. If another team offers a 4 year deal do the Sens match? He's had an awesome 20 games or so. But there hasn't been much else in his career that would make me want to jump at a long term commitment.

 

[northernlou]

You might not want to match a 4 yr deal, but I think an offer like that may be optimistic on Hammond's behalf. I'd be tempted to trade Anderson who is getting older and just had his best yr of the last few. A Lehner/Hammond tandem would come with some growing pains, but between the two of them, I think there is no less than a competent starter there.

I think the main thing here is Anderson's age, and do you give up on a young talent for short term gain for a (imo) declining veteran goalie.

 

[ColinM]

You might not want to match a 4 yr deal, but I think an offer like that may be optimistic on Hammond's behalf. I'd be tempted to trade Anderson who is getting older and just had his best yr of the last few. A Lehner/Hammond tandem would come with some growing pains, but between the two of them, I think there is no less than a competent starter there.

I think the main thing here is Anderson's age, and do you give up on a young talent for short term gain for a (imo) declining veteran goalie.

This is true. Anderson is more likely than not to decline. Lehner is more likely than not to get better. Even though I can't figure out Hammond's long term success level, his high end potential is likely going to be higher over the next 2 to 3 years than Anderson's.

Having said that since Cory Schnieder was only worth a first round draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks, Sens fans shouldn't expect more than that in a trade involving Anderson.

 

[JohnnyHolmes]

And somehow ended up not only getting a 1st for the lesser goaltender in Lehner, but also managed to dump Legwand in the same deal.

As much as I criticize Murray...that was brilliant.

 

[ColinM]

Say what you want about Lehner/Hammond/Anderson debate dumping Legwand was the best part. Almost nobody wanted to debate if Legwand was a waste of cap space.

 

[JohnnyHolmes]

I always understood the idea of signing Legwand. With Spezza gone, and a lot of young Centers it made sense to sign a veteran 50'ish point guy.

 

[ColinM]

I always understood the idea of signing Legwand. With Spezza gone, and a lot of young Centers it made sense to sign a veteran 50'ish point guy.

I guess if Zibinijad didn't have as good of a year as he did and if Lazar played in Junior last year Legwand might have looked like a better signing. Heck Legwand was signed for a shorter term than Greening so the signing wasn't a complete disaster.