Anaheim Ducks G Frederik Andersen is Likely on the Move This Summer; 5 Potential Destinations
Anaheim Ducks G Frederik Andersen will likely find himself on the trade block this summer following another disappointing early exit from the playoffs.
It seems changes are due for Anaheim this offseason, and began almost immediately with Bruce Boudreau being relieved as head coach. Along with a change behind the bench, GM Bob Murray should be looking to shake up the roster a bit.
One of those changes is almost guaranteed to be between the pipes.
After forcing Gibson to AHL duties for the last couple of years with a pair of short stints leading into the 2015-16 season, it seemed John Gibson had zero interest in returning to San Diego following his recall when Andersen was hurt and Anton Khudobin was struggling.
Some may ask, “why can’t the two netminders co-exist as a tandem (similar to Dallas or Detroit)”
Both Andersen and Gibson are quality starter’s capable of carrying the majority of the load for their team. Any way you look at it, someone isn’t getting enough time between the pipes. If we consider the psyche of a goaltender, wouldn’t it make sense to have one exclusive starter who doesn’t have to keep looking over his shoulder if he has one bad performance?
It was stated back at the beginning of the season that GM Bob Murray had no interest in listening to offers about John Gibson. Murray always believed Gibson to be the future in goal, and considering his new two-year contract that only carries a cap hit a little north of $2 million dollars, chances are the younger guy is also the cheaper option.
Anaheim Ducks G Frederik Andersen is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) this summer after earning $1.15 million dollars against the cap in his previous contract. The pay raise Andersen is looking for and deserves is a number Bob Murray might not be willing to pay.
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Both goalies (Andersen and Gibson) put up exceptional numbers in 2015-16. Andersen’s record took a hit early with Anaheim’s goal scoring struggles, which was providing him with the least amount of goal support among all NHL goalies for much of the season.
Anaheim Ducks G Frederik Andersen went 22-9-4 with four shutouts, a 2.30GAA, and .919 save percentage during the regular season. He also went 3-2 with one shutout, a 1.41GAA and .947 save percentage in the postseason.
John Gibson went 21-13-3 with four shutouts, a 2.07GAA and .920 save percentage in the regular season. He was 0-2 with a 3.08GAA and .900 save percentage during the playoffs.
Anaheim Ducks G Frederik Andersen Potential Trade Destinations
Drafted twice, first by Carolina in 2010, then again in 2012 by Anaheim after going unsigned.
Andersen will be 27 in October and now has a little over three years of NHL experience (125 regular season games).
Andersen can be that long-term answer that teams are looking for (provided there’s a decent backup and quality team in front of him). In a world where goaltenders are just beginning to peak at his age, even a rebuilding team looking to make noise in the next few years should have interest.
Let’s explore five good fits for Frederik Andersen:
Arizona Coyotes
Mike Smith needs to be replaced, or at the very least, challenged by a quality netminder. That contract will be difficult to move, but moving forward with Louis Domingue/Mike Smith could be a big mistake.
More puck prose: Offer Sheets A Possibility for Ducks D Sami Vatanen
Toronto Maple Leafs
Even if Garret Sparks or Antoine Bibeau has NHL potential, the pair will likely need more time in the minors to develop. With no clear answer in sight, why not target a guy in the same age range as many of your older core pieces (i.e. James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, etc.)?
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New York Islanders
Jaroslav Halak has proven himself unreliable. Not because of his play, but because of his inability to stay off the IR. There’s a chance he could be moved, but either way GM Garth Snow has declared Thomas Greiss a starter.
We’ve seen this story before haven’t we? A goalie gets hot for a short while before he falls off the map again – this is likely the case for the 31-year-old German netminder. This isn’t Ben Bishop reaching his potential in his late 20s.
It’s not to say that Greiss can’t be the minority statistic that exceeds expectations, but you need depth in the NHL. Why not trade for Andersen? Worst case scenario, Garth Snow has an extra goalie to move next offseason.
More puck prose: NHL Mock Draft 5.5: 7 Rounds of Prospect Analysis
Philadelphia Flyers
The Steve Mason–Michal Neuvirth tandem worked better than most of the goaltending performances we’ve seen in recent years from the Flyers. Unfortunately, neither of these guys have played consistently at a high enough level for the amount of time that would make you feel comfortable about this situation moving forward.
Perhaps we’re one year premature here, and the time to re-evaluate the situation comes next summer, but then again, that’s one more year of Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek at their prime wasted if Neuvirth/Mason can’t get the job done.
Next: Anaheim Ducks: 5 Offseason Moves to Consider
Calgary Flames
It’s more likely that Calgary seeks a short-term solution with quality prospects on the way in coming years. The Flames might consider this option if they want ensured security until Jon Gillies or Mason McDonald arrives, at which point, Andersen could be traded (likely still in his early 30s).