Toronto Maple Leafs: Is Frederik Andersen’s Workload a Problem?

Ever since Frederik Andersen was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he’s cemented himself as one of the best goalies of the last four years.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Andersen, the team got significantly better. Since the Danish goaltender arrived in Toronto, the team has gone 124-61-29 with him in behind them.

Without Andersen in net, the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone 28-34-5 since 2016.

More recently though, he’s put himself in the history books — becoming the fastest European goaltender to reach 200 wins, and the fourth fastest of all goalies in NHL history.

Could this workload be too much for Andersen?

There’s more than just wins that show why Andersen is one of the best goaltenders in recent memory.

Since joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2016, he’s tied for the fourth best save percentage of all NHL goalies with 150+ games played with a .918.

And if you make it 200+ games played? He’s 2nd — trailing only behind, Sergei Bobrovsky.

His whole career? Still a .918 save percentage, which is tied for 5th among all net-minders since 2013.

There’s a lot that’s made Andersen one of the best goalies of the last four years — like his work-horse mentality. He’s always been one to put his head down and go to work, not complaining of playing too much; he does what’s asked of him, period.

He’s played the most games of any goalie since joining the Leafs and since entering the NHL — the 30-year-old has played 345 games, which puts 9th among active goaltenders.

Even with that workload under his belt, he’s started 143 games with a .900 save percentage, sitting a top the NHL in that category.

His ability to manage a workload is phenomenal. This season, unless Michael Hutchinson comes in for a few games, it looks like Andersen will hit 60 games played for the fourth straight year with Toronto.

A mark that only a few goaltenders in the NHL have cracked. Will he break his season record of 66, which he’s done only twice in his career? It’s highly likely, but it’s not something to get excited about.

The last time a team won the Stanley Cup with a goaltender playing 60+ regular season games was back in the 2011-12 season. Johnathan Quick ended up finishing with 69 games, leading the L.A. Kings to their first ever Stanley Cup.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs ever want to get to that point, it’s imperative that they get a solid backup goaltender. When they get that, their chances become greater.

It’s coming down to the wire for Hutchinson though as this could be his last game with the Toronto Maple Leafs, if he can’t secure a win. If he does win though, his time with the team will be extended, and it could mean; going onto bigger, and better things.