LeBrun on Hammond & goaltending needs of Sabres, Oilers, Sharks, Stars

Pierre LeBrun was on Ottawa’s TSN 1200 on Wednesday afternoon.

On what he thinks the market might be for Andrew Hammond - were the Senators not able to lock him before July 1 - and the possibilities of Buffalo or Edmonton:

“I was going to say, I would start with Buffalo because Bryan Murray will tell you this, that Tim Murray was instrumental in signing Andrew Hammond. And it just so happens the Sabres need goaltending. So I wouldn’t be far-fetched to suggest that Tim Murray would probably have an eye there. Although Anders Lindback is certainly trying to signal his case right now with the Buffalo Sabres, playing well of late.

“But yeah, all the obvious teams. I think Edmonton, San Jose, Dallas – those are all teams that need goaltending.

“Now again, I have no idea whether they’d have interest in Andrew Hammond per say, but I do know they’re looking for goaltending in the off-season. All of those teams I just mentioned, among others.

“I just don’t think it’s going to get to July 1 guys, unless the contract demands are out of whack – which would surprise me.

“I think that the only play here for Ottawa is to sign him after the year and then worry about the three-headed goalie monster after that because at the end of the day, it’s asset management. You don’t lose an asset for nothing, if you don’t have to. Sign the asset and then worry about how you’re managing the extra asset and get something in return.
“That’s really the way to go, I think.”

Source: TSN 1200/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey