Andrew Hammond enjoyed an amazing rookie season with Ottawa in 2014-15. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres add depth, sign Andrew Hammond, Curtis Lazar and others

BUFFALO – As general manager Jason Botterill promised, the Sabres added a third goalie today, signing veteran Andrew Hammond to a one-year, $700,000 contract.

Hammond, 31, is best known for compiling a 20-1-2 record as a rookie with the Ottawa Senators in 2014-15.

Overall, Hammond has put together a 27-15-6 mark with a 2.31 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and four shutouts in 56 career NHL outings.

Hammond spent last season with the Iowa Wild. He has also played for the Colorado Avalanche.

The Bowling Green product will likely start the upcoming season with the Rochester Americans and serve as a mentor for top Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Some other signings:

– The Sabres have inked center Curtis Lazar to a one-year, one-way contract worth $700,000.

Lazar, 24, scored 20 goals and 41 points in 57 games last season with the Stockton Heat, the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate. He played one NHL contest.

The Ottawa Senators drafted Lazar in the first round in 2013, 17th overall. Lazar has compiled 15 goals and 51 points in 246 career NHL contests.

The Flames didn’t give Lazar, who could be bound for the AHL again, a qualifying offer last week.

Lazar captained Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2015 World Junior Championship. Sabres winger Sam Reinhart and Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid also played on that club.

– The Sabres have signed defenseman John Gilmour to a one-year, one-way deal worth $700,000.

Gilmour, 26, enjoyed a monster AHL season in 2018-19, scoring 20 goals and 54 points in 70 outings with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ affiliate. He also went pointless in five NHL games.

The Flames drafted Gilmour in the seventh round in 2013, 198th overall.

Gilmour has compiled two goals and five points in 33 career NHL games.

– The Sabres have inked center Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year, one-way contract worth $1.4 million.

Dea, 25, bounced around last season, playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and two AHL clubs – the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Springfield Thunderbirds.

Dea compiled four goals and six points in 20 NHL outings and 17 goals and 44 points in 46 AHL contests in 2018-19. He has scored five goals and seven points in 29 career NHL games.

Botterill and Amerks GM Randy Sexton know Dea from their days in Pittsburgh.

– The Amerks have also re-signed forward Dalton Smith to a one-year AHL contract.

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