Report: Leafs and Andersen re-engage in contract negotiations

Freddy back between the pipes for the Leafs?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Report: Leafs and Andersen re-engage in contract negotiations
Zuma Press

It wasn't exactly a banner season for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen. The 31 year old Dane played just 24 games this season due to injury and, frankly, was pretty unspectacular even when healthy. He finished the season with a 2.96 goals against average and .895 save percentage. By comparison Andersen's back up Jack Campbell had a 2.15 goals against average and .921 save percentage in 22 games played. In other words, Campbell surpassed Andersen on the team's depth chart... and pretty convincingly too.

With Andersen set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career and with the Leafs operating under a tight budget due to the contracts awarded to star players like John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, it looks like Andersen's days with the Leafs are nearing an end. In fact, just last week TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Andersen is seeking a slight raise on the $5 million annual salary he currently earns.


While Leafs GM Kyle Dubas seemingly has no cap room to even entertain a contract offer to Andersen, Dreger's TSN colleague Pierre LeBrun reports that the player and the team are engaged in a dialogue. LeBrun doesn't believe that an offer has been tabled, the Leafs are very much "keeping the door open" for Andersen to re-sign in Toronto as a free agent.



You know what? More power to ya, Freddy. Here's hoping you get your money, but if I'm an NHL GM I'd be very, very, VERY wary of throwing Andersen into the #1 starting role on my team. It's expected that Colorado Avalanche and Vezina Trophy nominated goaltender Philipp Grubauer will be the most coveted goalie in the free agent market, assuming that longtime Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask re-ups in Boston. Beyond that there are names like Devan Dubnyk, Antti Raanta, James Reimer, Petr Mrazek and Jonathan Bernier available on the open market. I don't see any of these guys commanding $5+ million per season, so frankly I don't know how Andersen has come to his self-evaluation. If a guy like Dubnyk or Mrazek signs for $1 million then there's no way Andersen is a $5+ million goaltender.