AvsGuy
Hired the wrong DJ again
Hammond had a great game. Bernier won 9 in a row earlier this season.
I’ll take Bernier, he’s been a key part of our roster this season.
I’ll take Bernier, he’s been a key part of our roster this season.
GDT: Game 5: Avs @ Preds | 4/20, 7:30pm MT | Hopefully this isn't the End
- Thread starter forsbergavs32
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GirardSpinorama
Registered User
- Aug 20, 2004
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I don't really see why Hammond can't be a decent backup. I would obviously prefer Bernier, but technique wise, I haven't noticed anything particularly bad with Hammond that makes him not NHL quality. Can anyone else chime in on this?
I just made one, but it was a quickie. Nashvilles is likely more polished.
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
Bill Peckerskull
Fargin' Icehole
IDK, maybe Hammond is one of those guys that just needs to be challenged to play well. He said in his postgame interview, that in the most important times he tries to elevate his game to another level. Maybe he's simply better when he needs to put his balls are on the table, and not in what he perceives as somewhat meaningless regular season games? Perhaps his numbers in the minors were a result of his circumstances and he just played half-assed?
That's not the ideals of a true starter in the NHL, IMO, but if he can be good when you need him to be good, he's probably ok for a back up. Give him 25 or so games, challange him to win them all.
But like has been already said, I'd still resign Bernier for a couple years, and go with Varly and him. Hammond's 2 starts, and one relief appearance, isn't enough to promote him at this point.
That's not the ideals of a true starter in the NHL, IMO, but if he can be good when you need him to be good, he's probably ok for a back up. Give him 25 or so games, challange him to win them all.
But like has been already said, I'd still resign Bernier for a couple years, and go with Varly and him. Hammond's 2 starts, and one relief appearance, isn't enough to promote him at this point.
Chairman Maouth
Retired Staff
They most probably can't... ;-) we are all free to have opinions though. I do agree that Hammond need more starts before promoting him though.
Also, yes, perhaps he is a big game goalie, thriving under pressure, not sure. We all know that people react very different under pressure and stress. I see this almost day at my work as well, some turn into bitches blaming other people while some rise to the challenge and thrive.
Hammond obviously had amazing stretches before in his career and I don't think it's a fluke but the question is why he is having consistency issues. One reason may have been the general hockey climate in Ottawa and the tough competition from Anderson, Lehner etc. It's probably tough to play for Canadian teams in general, hockey is almost a religion in Canada like soccer in Italy, Brasil or England, the pressure is huge from a majority of all people, it concerns a lot of people. Frederik Andersen in Toronto is the first goalie in many, many years to successfully handle the pressure in Toronto. Not to forget, it's not only about the goalies, the other players and the management obviously having huge impact too. Judging goalies playing for poor teams is an extremely difficult task, many "experts" are failing doing this on a regular basis. (OT: Talking about Toronto and Ottawa they have made an increadibly large number of stupid trades during the years, totally amazing I would say.)
The major issue with Hammond is probably him being injury-prone and health issues (?), now let's ride his hot streak.
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