A Toronto Maple Leafs Frederik Andersen Hot Take

Jordan Binnington

If Andersen were playing for another team, one could expect his numbers to look significantly better. For proof, look at the goalie from Richmond Hill, ON, Jordan Binnington.

The team in front of him, the St Louis Blues rank third in the league in turnover differential and play a very strong lockdown style in their own end.

The Blues have also been much better on the season at their HDCA/60. They are ninth in the league in this category at even strength and 5-on-5.

They are giving up exactly one fewer high danger chance per game than Toronto. It might not appear to be a big deal, but over the course of a season it really adds up.

This has helped Binnington look better than he may actually be. For the season, he owns a .911 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average.

Playing with the Blues has been so good for Binnington that he not only won a Stanley Cup but he received 21 votes for the Hart Memorial Trophy and nine votes for the Vezina Trophy last year. This is a player who’s had worse numbers at the lower levels of OHL and AHL than he currently does in the NHL.

This is not to say that Binnington isn’t a fine goaltender. Clearly, he plays very well. He just happens to have benefits that don’t appear to exist for Andersen. The point, of course, is that while Binnington is aided from his team’s play, Andersen suffers as a result of it. Before anyone points a finger at Andersen they first need to consider the circumstances he faces every time he stands between the pipes with the Maple Leafs.