HOME IS WHERE HEART IS FOR SENS’ ANDERSON
There is no place like home for Craig Anderson.
The Ottawa Senators’ top goaltender made that clear Friday in agreeing to a two-year, US$9.5-million contract extension that will pay him $5.5 million in 201819 and $4 million in 2019-20.
As a potential unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, Anderson, 36 — who will make $4.2 million this year — could have shopped himself around next summer. But after several discussions with his wife, Nicholle, they both decided they have no desire to be anywhere else.
“It’s been a great home for me in Ottawa and I’m really looking forward to playing (the contract out),” Anderson said Friday at the Canadian Tire Centre. “I want to continue to contribute to the team and the organization. I’m really ecstatic to be part of this team and part of this group.
“First, and foremost, (it was a) family (decision). Nicholle and I talked about it all summer, just trying to figure out what’s best for my family and my career, where we wanted things to go and play out. Everything kind of boiled down to I still love the game, I still want to be here and I still want to come and compete on a daily basis. I feel like that fire is very strong.”
Since being acquired from Colorado in February 2011, Anderson has established himself as one of the NHL’s top goalies.
His respect for the organization grew even deeper last season when there was an outpouring of local support after Nicholle was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer.
The Senators gave Anderson as much time as he needed to spend time with his family and never pressured him to return to the team.
That included taking a leave of absence in December and January while Nicholle spent time at a New York-based treatment facility.
All of that meant a lot to Anderson and his family. He already felt good about being here and that just made him feel a little bit better.
“Last year was huge but since day one, I’ve been treated like a son here,” said Anderson. “Whether it was (former general manager) Bryan Murray or Pierre (Dorion, the team’s current GM) or (owner) Eugene (Melnyk), it’s one of those things where you feel the love and you feel the family and you just feed off of that.
“Right from the get-go, I’ve had the full support and that was more evident last year when the team bent over backward for me. I feel like I owe them nothing but my best.”
And that’s the key to Anderson’s success — he’s consistent and gives his best every night. He’s been reliable and helped the Senators get to the East final last spring for the first time in a decade. His teammates know they can count on him.
“I tell everyone I talk to that he’s the most under-rated goalie in the NHL,” said defenceman Mark Borowiecki. “He doesn’t get the press that he deserves.
“If I have to read one more article about (Henrik) Lundqvist and all those guys and how great they are and his name’s not included, I might lose it. You watch that guy, game in and game out he’s pretty good. I haven’t seen too many guys with the reactions he has and the quickness that he has.
“I think he deserves whatever is coming to him.”
Anderson, who bounced around early in his career after going through the NHL draft twice, is pleased to be in such a good situation. He was first selected by Calgary in 1999, then taken by Chicago in 2001. He didn’t really settle in one place until the trade to the Senators.
“It takes a while for a goalie to find a home,” he said. “You learn from your mistakes and I think I made numerous mistakes early in my career — probably that was some of the cause of my bouncing around.
“Once you start figuring it out and you realize what the game of hockey can do for you and what you can give back to the game, you tend to figure it out real quick.”
Coach Guy Boucher couldn’t wipe the smile off his face because he knows the club has a good situation in net with Anderson and backup Mike Condon.
“That’s as positive as you can have it. It’s outstanding,” Boucher said.
“Everybody knows it starts with your goaltender and it will definitely make us very competitive for the next (few) years and we definitely had a very good performance last year from him.
“We’re more than happy. He’s a No. 1 guy. With him signed, it just makes us that much more stable.”
Anderson wasn’t concerned this deal wouldn’t get done and left the talks up to Chicago-based agent Justin Duberman.
“I have a love and a passion for the game,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what the contract says. I’m going continue to play until they kick me out and I can’t play anymore.”