What do you expect from: #41 Craig Anderson?

[dudacek]

Whatever else Craig Anderson is, he is a testament in perseverance.

A 3rd-round pick by Calgary way back in 1999, it took Anderson a full decade and four NHL organizations to finally emerge as an NHL #1 goalie with Colorado in 2009-10.

Traded to Ottawa the following season, Anderson spent the better part of the past decade as the Senators' number one, compiling some very good results, including a Masterton trophy-winning performance leading the team on an extended run to the semi-finals as his wife battled cancer in 2017.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=42354

Anderson's star faded after that run. He put up mediocre numbers for three consecutive seasons on a fading Sens team and was not offered a contract coming out of the pandemic last year.

He signed a minimum-wage deal with Washington in a taxi squad role, playing just 4 games. Now 40, most expected him to retire this summer, but when the Sabres offered him a another minimum-wage deal in the wake of failing to re-sign Linus Ullmark, he jumped at the chance.

What do you expect from Anderson this season?

[bob_sauve28]

If he is better than Hutton I’ll probably be happy. That isn’t saying a lot but it would still be ok 

[French Collection]

I think he is the best they have but he will need to have a reasonable workload. This allow a rotation of Dell, UPL and Tokarski to get some games.

I am hoping for someone better to shake loose from the waiver wire or an Eichel trade.

[K-9]

Vezina contender. Nothing less. Then again, I’m easy to please. 

[Digger]

I chose the 2nd choice.  I hope that he stays healthy this season and can handle the expected workload.  As we know the Sabres have had issues in the past with goalies going down with injury so hopefully we can avoid that this season given how thin we are depth wise.

[PerreaultForever]

I expect an occasional flash of who/what he was but for the most part a step behind. His mind will make the right play and save but he just won't get there on time and he will burn out and fade fast.

[Andrew Amerk]

I expect him to eventually shave the rest of his remaining head stubble, and feature a completely bald headed look finally. 

[Claude Balls]

Zero expectations from me. I'll be surprised if he lasts til Christmas. I probably won't even pay that much attention until the Bills season is over. Hopefully sometime in February.

[PerreaultForever]

What to expect? Probably a lot of post game similar to this but it was sort of nice to see Ullmark totally blow the game for the Bruins tonight. 

 

[Taro T]

Expect he'll be their best goalie unless Adams makes a move.

Also expect they'll be forced to give him 50+ games & he'll be looking like Hutton by Christmas.

[GASabresIUFAN]

I expect solid play for 10-15 games and then for him to get injured and struggle to get back for the rest of the year.  I then expect him to be traded at the deadline if healthy to a team that has injuries in goal for a 3rd rd pick in 2023.

[Pimlach]

For Linus:  

If he gets a lot of goal support early he could develop a winning mindset and then play really good hockey for them.  

Or, he could fall to pressure, get injured, and just be an average goalie on a good team.  

I think the first scenario is more likely.  

 

For Anderson:

Backup role and mentor.   He will be better for us than Hutton was.  

Edited October 6, 2021 by Pimlach

[bob_sauve28]

Anderson improved to 4-1 on the season with a 1.76 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. 🥺

[GASabresIUFAN]

Who was the last 40 year old goalie to play 40 games in the NHL? Thomas played 48 at 39.

Edit: Found the answer to my question.  https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/player-age/40-year-old-nhl-goalies.html

In relatively recent times there have been 3, Belfour, Hasek and Roloson.

Edited October 29, 2021 by GASabresIUFAN

[PromoTheRobot]

It's worth noting the big defensive improvement from the Sabres. Take for example a breakaway by a Duck (forgot who) that Okposo, while not catching up to the player, took away the inside enough so that Anderson had a smaller shooting lane to defend. It's these little things that add up to wins.

Edited October 29, 2021 by PromoTheRobot

[Doohickie]

10 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

It's worth noting the big defensive improvement from the Sabres. Take for example a breakaway by a Duck (forgot who) that Okposo, while not catching up to the player, took away the inside enough so that Anderson had a smaller shooting lane to defend. It's these little things that add up to wins.

I think it was Drysdale.

[Taro T]

15 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

It's worth noting the big defensive improvement from the Sabres. Take for example a breakaway by a Duck (forgot who) that Okposo, while not catching up to the player, took away the inside enough so that Anderson had a smaller shooting lane to defend. It's these little things that add up to wins.

 

4 minutes ago, The Ghost of Yuri said:

I think it was Drysdale.

 

Yep.  And Caggiula took a good angle against a Duck (Zegras) in the 3rd (?) to force him to stay wide so Anderson only had to defend the short side when it initially looked like Drake did not have the line to make that happen.

[Doohickie]

Even when they're out of sync they're playing well, in a sense.

[PerreaultForever]

He's played pretty good so far. Definitely better than expected. The question I would think is at his age, can he maintain that with top goalie minutes and not burn out or get hurt? Guess we will find out. 

[JohninMinn.]

He will be the first 40 yr old goalie to stand on his head throughout this magical Cinderella story season.