The newest New Jersey Devil has made his way to practice with the club.
Sam Kasan reported earlier today on the Devils app “Injury Report” that goalie Andrew Hammond was with the Devils on the ice earlier Tuesday for practice.
Hammond told Kasan “[i]t was my first time getting into a practice in a little while. It’s always fun being out there.”
As Kasan noted, Hammond, who was acquired by the Devils at the trade deadline from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Nate Schnarr, has been battling a lower body injury this season.
With the Habs, he had played in four games this season prior to his injury, notching a 3-0 record with a 2.40 goals against average and a .920 save percentage on the season. Kasan mentioned his 60 career NHL games, where his overall record is 30-15-6 with a 2.31 GAA and a .923 save percentage.
Kasan stated that “there is no target date for when he could rejoin the lineup and dress for a game” despite practicing.
Hammond continued: “It was another step forward. I feel good. I got through practice. That was the first step. I feel good after. I just need to keep building on it. We’ll see how much longer (until a return). I’m trying to get up to game speed. But it was a positive day today.”
Kasan explained that Hammond’s injury and the Devils having been on the road for the week since the deadline has kept the goaltender from having “a chance to be around the team and his new teammates/coaches until recently.”
But Hammond liked what he has seen so far, telling Kasan: “Now that I’ve had a few days here it’s been great. They have a good group here. It’s tight-knit, and they make it very easy for a new player like myself to bled in and be one of the guys. All-in-all, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience so far.”
The Devils will be traveling to Boston for a Thursday night tilt with the Bruins at TD Garden later this week.