LEAFS PLUCK A DUCK
Frederik Andersen signs five-year deal and says he’s ready for the challenge of playing in Toronto,
Goalie Frederik Andersen insists he knows what he is getting himself into
Acquired Monday by the Maple Leafs, who essentially filled their biggest roster hole with one of the largest men the team has had at the position, Andersen says he is looking forward to the pressure that comes with playing in a big hockey market.
“I’m happy about being in a spot, in a big hockey market,” he said. “It will be fun developing with this young team that is very hungry for success. It will be a good experience.”
The Leafs sent two draft picks — the 30th overall on Friday and a secondrounder next year — to Anaheim for the six-foot-four, 220-pound 26year-old, then signed Andersen to a five-year, $25-million extension hoping they’ve filled a black hole in net.
“The opportunity of acquiring him came now,” Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “This will help the growth of our young players with the tandem of Freddie and Bernie (Jonathan Bernier).”
The Leafs certainly promise to be a young team — one that will be exciting but probably make a lot of mistakes. Solid goaltending is the best way to make sure mistakes don’t end up in the net, sapping confidence.
“When you have a goaltender of this magnitude, it breeds confidence through the defence and the forwards,” Lamoriello said. “It’s a necessity with where we’re at.”
The trend throughout the NHL is toward big, tall goalies, but it’s not one the Leafs have necessarily followed. Jussi Rynnas was six-footfive, but only played three games for Toronto. Daren Puppa, a backup in the 1990s, and Gary Smith, from the 1960s, were both listed at six-footfour, but were 15 pounds lighter.
“I love his competitiveness,” Lamoriello said. “He’s always played well in the playoffs. He gives us size which, today, is a necessity. But his athleticism is exceptional.”
“Six-foot-four is not bad,” said Andersen. “But you have to be able to move, too. That’s big for me . . . having that athleticism.”
The Leafs have plenty of draft picks to surrender still, with 12 this weekend in Buffalo, including the first overall choice.
“The plan is still in place,” Lamoriello said. “We’re not pushing it forward. But we’ve said all along if we could put ourselves in place to get better without interrupting the plan, we would do it.”
Lamoriello’s teams in New Jersey have always featured strong goaltending, mainly Martin Brodeur. But he also acquired Cory Schneider, from Vancouver toward the end of Brodeur’s career.
“I feel I’ve had the good fortune to have certain goaltenders in the past,” Lamoriello said. “When you get a goaltender of this calibre, with the experience he’s had . . . acquiring him was the most important thing. The price was secondary.”
The Leafs really haven’t had a bona fide, reliable No. 1 goalie since Ed Belfour’s days ended in Toronto in 2006. The Leafs thought they were getting one in Bernier three seasons ago, but he had never played more than 25 games in a season.
Andersen has a stronger resume, having played No. 1 minutes in Anaheim. He has a 77-26-12 record with a 2.33 GAA and .918 save percentage over 125 career regular-season games with Anaheim. Andersen also holds a 17-9-2 career post-season record with a 2.34 GAA and a .916 save percentage.
“I’m very excited about developing with this group,” Andersen said. “It’s a young team and more prospects coming up. I know how hard they work from the games we played against them last year. I think they’re better than the standings were showing. I think we’ll be better next year.”