Habs' Hammond 'through-the-roof excited' for 1st NHL start since 2018

Montreal Canadiens netminder Andrew Hammond is looking forward to making his first start in the NHL since 2018 after interim head coach Martin St. Louis confirmed the 34-year-old will take the crease against the New York Islanders on Sunday.

"I'm through-the-roof excited. 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 during his media availability Saturday.

Hammond, who was traded to the Canadiens from the Minnesota Wild earlier this month, last saw NHL action in April 2018 during three playoff contests as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. He surrendered five goals on 37 shots in his last game.

Up until his move to Montreal, Hammond spent the 2021-22 campaign with the AHL's Iowa Wild and went 6-2-3 with a .908 save percentage over 11 games.

Hammond gained some notoriety in the early years of his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators. He became widely known as "the Hamburglar" during the 2014-15 season after helping the unlikely Senators reach the playoffs with a sparkling .941 save percentage and 20-1-2 record.

Following his surprise success, Hammond struggled to rediscover his form and played 24 contests with Ottawa in 2015-16 before recording seven regular-season appearances over the next two campaigns.

"I still want to play in this league," he said. "I think I can play well, and having that self-belief has kind of driven me to keep wanting to keep trying."

He added, "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."

Hammond has backed up Sam Montembeault during Montreal's past two contests.

He holds a .923 save percentage and a 2.31 goals-against average in 56 career NHL appearances.

Puck drops on Hammond's Canadiens debut Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.