Senators begin contract talks with Hammond

Bryan Murray is a man of his word. 

A week after telling reporters at the Ottawa Senators' end of season press conference that the team would offer goaltender Andrew Hammond a contract, talks between the two sides have begun. 

The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported Monday that negotiations have begun but that they are in the beginning stages and nothing is imminent yet. 

Hammond's agent Dan Plante confirmed that the talks are just getting underway and that his client is very hopeful to return to Ottawa. 

"I have been in touch with Ottawa, however nothing is imminent," Plante told Garrioch in a text message early Monday morning. "Andrew is very hopeful to get something worked out to remain with the club."

The Hamburglar is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 27-year-old went 20-1-2 and had a .941 save percentage and a 1.79 goals against average in 24 games.