Another day, another Ottawa Senator on waivers.
After goaltender Andrew Hammond cleared waivers on Sunday morning, the team placed forward Matt Puempel on waivers, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. Puempel has played 13 games this season, but has not scored a point. Overall, he has six points in 52 NHL games over the last three seasons.
This is a disappointing development for Puempel, who was a prolific goal scorer in the OHL. He scored 119 goals in 195 games with the Peterborough Petes and Kitchener Rangers. Puempel was selected 24th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Since turning pro, he’s also been a consistent scorer at the AHL level, with 111 points in 170 games. Unfortunately for him and the Senators, Puempel has been unable to find success at the NHL level.
Teams with scoring troubles, like the Vancouver Canucks or the New York Islanders, could take a look at Puempel, who will be a restricted free agent at season’s end. He makes $900K, which can easily be sent to the minors should he not work out.
Meanwhile, The Hamburglar cleared waivers. Hammond has only played two games this season, with an 0-1-0 record. He has a brutal 0.793 SV% and a 4.5 GAA to show for his work this season.
No word yet on whether or not he’ll be assigned to the AHL, though Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch believes that’s likely to happen sometime on Sunday. Hammond had been hurt in late October, in the game right after Craig Anderson first left the team. The team acquired Matt Condon from the Penguins shortly thereafter. He hasn’t played since, and recently refused to go to Binghamton on a conditioning stint. Hammond makes $1.35MM, so he’ll still count against the Senators’ salary cap to the tune of $400K, should he be sent down.