The Hamburglar's NHL Career Appears Over, Signs with KHL Club

Andrew Hammond stormed onto the NHL scene after spending four years at Bowling Green State University and two seasons in the AHL. His notorious 20-1-2 run to start his NHL career still vibrantly lives in league lore, as he posted a 1.79 GAA and .941 SV% in his first 24 games, sealing a playoff spot for the Ottawa Senators.

That run earned him the name 'the Hamburglar,' and it looked like he would lead a lucrative NHL career. Alas, no. Hammond struggled to hold onto a roster spot, traded to the Colorado Avalanche, after which he bounced around the AHL. He landed on the Montreal Canadiens, whose goaltending situation crumbled following Carey Price's injury. After being traded to the New Jersey Devils, he would certainly have an opportunity on a depleted goaltending group. But he really struggled, posting a 1-5-1 record with terrible numbers.

With a seriously poor showing last season, Hammond's NHL career is over. The Hamburglar signed a KHL contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, according to Russian sports publication Sport24.

Normally, when North American hockey players leave for Europe they do not receive much sympathy or even any sort of farewell. But The Hamburglar hits a little differently. Maybe I am just being sentimental, but Hammond's run to start his career is a great memory for myself, and many others I'm sure. A textbook Cinderella story of a guy who no one imagined much of, who carved out a section of NHL lore forever. Even though his time in the NHL is over, The Hamburglar's legacy lives on.

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