Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Re-Sign Frederik Andersen?

Toronto Maple Leafs starting goaltender Frederik Andersen’s contract is up after this season. Should the Leafs re-sign Him?

After Lou Lamoriello traded for the Danish netminder in 2016, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Andersen to a 5-year $25 million contract ($5 million AAV). That contract is set to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season.

For the majority of his tenure with the Leafs, Andersen has put up pretty great regular season numbers, and with that, he captured the Toronto Maple Leafs Franchise record for wins by a goalie in a single season, with 38 in the 2017-18 season. (nhl.com).

With the Leafs this past season, Andersen held up a respectable, however career-low, .909 SV% and a subpar 2.85 GAA. Despite the regular season numbers in the play-in round vs. Columbus, Andersen was great. He put up a .936 SV% and 1.84 GAA.

Andersens 2020-21 Season with the Toronto Maple Leafs

For the 2020-21 season, Andersen at 31 years of age will be playing for his payday. If the Leafs elect not to re-sign Andersen, he will go to the open market as a UFA. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said earlier this offseason, despite trade rumors, that the plan going forward this season is that Andersen will be the team’s starter.

Andersen will be playing for his future job though. The biggest thing holding him back in Toronto is that through the three times he’s been in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the club, he has not performed to the level that we Leaf Fans know he is capable of. It seems that there were always a couple of costly goals that went in that seemed to be easy routine stops that the top goaltender could make.

If Andersen can perform well in the regular season and achieve a 30+ win total and then perform in the playoffs like the Freddy Andersen we all know and love, then maybe the Leafs and Kyle Dubas will be willing to re-sign him.

But, that is a big if. If Andersen continues the trend of steady regular-season numbers and then becoming nothing above average come playoff time, then it may be time that Freddy and the blue and white part ways.

The Next Freddy Andersen Contract

Andersen can more than likely expect a raise for his next contract whether it’s in TO or another hockey market. On October 9th, a guy with similar numbers in UFA Jacob Markstrom signed a 6-year $36 million contract with the Calgary Flames ($6 million AAV). Both netminders are the same age, and over the past couple of years have been able to solidify themselves as definite #1 options for their teams.

It’s not unreasonable to believe that a similar contract in the $6-$7 million AAV range would be plausible for Andersen in the right fit. If Andersen is looking to get closer to the $7 million mark from the Toronto Maple Leafs though, it’s probable that Andersen will be out the door to the open market. But if he is looking for a more team-friendly deal around the $5.5 million range, then the option of resigning Andersen is there.

A few Pros of Andersen are that,

1. He will get you 30+ wins in the regular season
2. Good locker room guy
3. Can come up with timely saves
4. Minimal Injuries

But then the cons come into play,

1. Typically slow starts to his seasons
2. Already on the wrong side of 30
3. Hasn’t had playoff success with Leafs
4. Will be likely looking for a sizable raise from the current $5 million AAV

The options if Andersen leaves the Leafs are an arguable 1B Jack Campbell, Marlie prospects Joseph Woll and, Ian Scott, and then Russian Prospect Artur Akhtyamov who all seem to still be a couple of years away from NHL ice time. If it’s not any options that are already in the system, then perhaps pursuing a trade or free agency in an option.

It would be great to continue to see Freddy don the blue and white and eventually raise the Cup with the Leafs, but following the 2020-21 season, that may just be a pipedream.