Leaner Andersen aims to start strong
Frederik Andersen focused on core training in the off-season rather than lifting weights. Two slow Octobers led goalie to rethink his summer training
Under normal circumstances, it could be considered counterproductive when Maple Leafs goalie Freddie Andersen says he cut back on his weight training regimen over the summer.
For Andersen, though, it was a way to address a problem in his first two seasons in Toronto: Slow starts.
“I think it’s something you want to do, you want to try and bring different things to the table, you want to accomplish different things,” Andersen said Tuesday, as the Leafs prepared for Wednesday’s road game in Montreal.
Andersen did lift weights in the off-season, but reduced the poundage. He also reduced the amount of time he spent on weight training in favour of core training.
Andersen has always analyzed his training approaches and changed them when he discovered alternative methods that interested him.
After his first year in Toronto, Andersen met with Scot Prohaska, a noted strength and nutrition coach. After some indepth conversations about proper calorie-carb-protein balances for workouts and recovery, Prohaska discovered Andersen’s knowledge on the subject was thin. What ensued was a total change to Andersen’s nutrition program, one which was based in part on a 26-page blood analysis. Andersen came to camp leaner and stronger, and built off that this summer.
“You try and be more prepared,” Andersen said. “It’s not that I didn’t prepare in the past, but it’s feeling the intensity you need for the season, getting your work level up to where it needs to be. Hopefully all this benefits me.”
In each of his first two years with the Leafs he made 66 starts, smashing through his previous career high of 54. He also faced more shots than any other NHL goalie in the process.
Andersen did set a personalbest 38 wins last season, but had a slow — for him — October, as well as a drop-off in sharpness in the first round of the playoffs.
“Being in the league more now (seven years), I don’t focus much on (stats from slow starts to the season),” he said.
Through his first two seasons with the Leafs, Andersen post- ed a combined 8-10 record and a .886 save percentage in the month of October. Outside of last March, those two Octobers mark the only months where he has posted a sub .900 save percentage as a Leaf.
New Leaf John Tavares has spent about two weeks of camp with Andersen, and already notices the finer details in Andersen’s abilities.
“His presence, his size, when you’re around him it’s very visible,” Tavares said Tuesday.
“It’s his athletic ability that goes along with that. As a bigger goaltender, his ability to move and stretch out and never make you feel like he’s out of the play, like he’s done a few times to me. His athletic ability and never quitting on the puck is very impressive.”