Traik-eotomy
If I had a vote for the Vezina Trophy, it’d be for Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen, who has been nothing short of spectacular ... Price’s numbers are ugly — his salary jump even worse ... Phaneuf-for-Gaborik not such a lose-lose after all ... Look out f
As a writer, I don’t get a vote for the Vezina Trophy, as the league’s GMs vote for the goalie of the year. But, if were casting my ballot, Toronto’s Frederik Andersen
would be near the top of the list.
Toss out the first month of the season, which was also a bad month for Andersen in 2016-17, and the Maple Leafs goalie has been one of the best in the entire NHL. After Tuesday’s 1-0 shutout win against Florida, Andersen is ranked fifth among goalies with 35 or more starts with a .923 save percentage, is tied for second with five shutouts and is tied for third with 30 wins, having appeared in the second-most games.
That last stat is particularly important for someone who has been a workhorse this season.
If Andersen finishes second in wins while remaining in a topfive position in save percentage
— as well as facing the most shots in the league — he could edge Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy
and Nashville’s Pekka Rinne,
who are arguably playing behind stronger teams, for the Vezina.
The only caveat is that Andersen would have to play somewhere around 68-70 games in the process. That’s unlikely to happen based on where the Leafs are in the standings.
Unlike last year, when Toronto qualified for the playoffs on the final weekend of the season, the Leafs are pretty much locked into a playoff spot with little chance of moving up or down in the standings. That means head coach Mike Babcock
has an opportunity to rest his star goalie for more than just the remaining three back-to-back games.
Andersen played in 66 games last season (not including the playoffs), which was 12 more than his previous high in Anaheim. This year, he has already appeared in
51 of the team’s 62 games. With 20 more games to go, it’s unlikely he equals last year’s number or finishes with the most games played.
The Leafs goalie might still be in a position to win the Vezina, but he’s going to have to stand even taller on his head to do it.
IGGY A FIT FOR JACKETS?
Jarome Iginla, 40, has been practising with the Providence Bruins in hopes of returning to the NHL this season. No word on whether Boston actually plans on signing him before Monday’s deadline, but Columbus’ 31st-ranked power play sure could use him. After all, Iginla scored seven of his 14 goals on the man-advantage last season . ... As bad as this year has been for Carey Price, who has a career-worst 2.98 goals-against average, .904 save percentage and is on pace for the most losses of his career, next year promises to be even worse. That’s when Price’s salary jumps up from $6.5 million US to $10.5 million, leaving the Canadiens with less room to fill out their roster . ... With their win against Florida, the Leafs are now only three points back of the Bruins. Of course, Toronto has played four more games than Boston, which is ridiculous for anyone trying to make sense of the already confusing standings.
... At the time, we called the Dion Phaneuf-for-Marian Gaborik trade a lose-lose for both Los Angeles and Ottawa, but so far it has resulted in winning records for the two organizations. The Senators are 2-10, with Gaborik scoring a goal and an assist in his debut, while Phaneuf ’s three goals in four games has the Kings (3-1-0) back in a playoff spot.
WHY WOULD JVR RE-SIGN?
If the Leafs are showcasing James van Riemsdyk for a potential trade, they are going about it in a funny way. Among regular forwards, only Dominic Moore and Kaspari Kapanen have played fewer minutes than van Riemsdyk, who made the most of his limited time by scoring Toronto’s only goal in a 1-0 win against Florida while logging 12 minutes, 17 seconds. Either way, I doubt he re-signs for a coach who has used him sparingly this season . ... Word is that the Oilers are looking for a winger who could play with Connor McDavid at the trade deadline. You know, someone like Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle.