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Toronto Maple Leafs: Frederik Andersen Player Profile

By Hunter Eitel

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 23: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs salutes the crowd after getting the game's first star against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 23: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs salutes the crowd after getting the game's first star against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs 2018-2019 season is just around the corner, so let’s start scouting the players expected to make the team, starting with Frederik Andersen.

While questions may hang over the defense, it is clear Frederik Andersen is the goalie the Toronto Maple Leafs need to compete in the NHL.

Aside from the offense, Andersen was the reason the Leafs made the playoffs last season, bailing out a rough defensive performance from his teammates. But as we move into a new year, and all eyes are once again on the Leafs’ offensive firepower, it’s easy to forget just how much of an impact Andersen has made in his two seasons for the Leafs.

As the wall preventing opposing teams from lighting up the Leafs on the scoreboard, Andersen is going to have all eyes on him as expectations are higher than ever for the upcoming season.

Player Profile: Frederik Andersen

Before donning the blue and white, Andersen was a member of the Anaheim Ducks. Playing 125 games over 3 seasons, Andersen compiled a 77-26-12 record, a .918 SV% and a 2.33 GAA along with 6 shutouts, winning the Jennings Trophy with John Gibson in 2016. Solid regular season numbers for a third-round draft pick. In the playoffs Andersen appeared in 28 games with a 17-9 record for the Ducks, with a .919 SV% and a 2.28 GAA. After his third season, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2016 first-round pick and a second-round pick in 2017.

2016-2017

Taking over for Jonathan Bernier following the Leafs’ last place campaign, Andersen proved he was worth the draft picks and the 5-year $25 million contract the Leafs signed him to.

Playing in 66 games, Andersen went an impressive 33-16-14 with a .918 SV% and a 2.67 GAA with 4 shutouts. He faced 2,052 shots, well above his previous career high of 1,436 with Anaheim. His even strength SV% was a solid .922 and was a driving force in helping the Leafs go from the worst team in the NHL to the playoffs in just one season.

In the playoffs Andersen went 2-4 with a .915 SV% and a 2.68 GAA, a noble stat line when you remember the Leafs were playing the Presidents’ Trophy winning Washington Capitals. With a season like that, the future of Andersen and the Leafs looked bright.

2017-2018

Last season was also a strong effort by Andersen. Setting the Leafs’ regular season wins record (38), he again had a 66 game season with a .918 SV%, adding 5 shutouts (4th in the NHL) along the way. His GAA rose to a 2.81, likely caused by facing the most shots in the (2,211) and still making the most saves (2,029) in the league. Even a spotty defensive performance by the players in front of him didn’t stop him from helping the Leafs make the playoffs for the second straight season, the first time that has happened in over a decade.

The playoffs were another story. 3-3, 3.76 GAA, .896 SV% and a playoff elimination at the hands of the Boston Bruins. Andersen just wasn’t able to plug up the holes against a dominant Bruins offense.

2018-2019?

Andersen is the man who should be between the pipes for the Leafs on opening night. His performances during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially last season, are why the team has made the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. While the defense in front of him is mostly the same, the offense has lost Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk, two players who always had difficulty when it comes to defense. If the Leafs make improvements in stopping shots, Andersen is going to continue proving why he is the goalie the Leafs should have for the near future.

stats from naturalstattrick.com  + hockeydb.com

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