Toronto Maple Leafs: Where Will Frederik Andersen Play Next Season?
![TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs protects the corner against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs protects the corner against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/abecda3ee25995d28367f3ab7eca2639ba0e2983a7611d2bb50311d260011f63.jpg)
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators have no goaltenders signed to their main roster for next season.
The 38-year-old Pekka Rinne has likely played his last game for the Predators. That leaves the team with restricted free agent Juuse Saros as likely their only goaltender for the 2021-22 season once he is re-signed.
The Predators are projected to have about $16.9 million in cap space for next season. That would make it very easy for them to sign Andersen to be their new number one goaltender.
Andersen is likely looking for the same $5 million a season deal he had with the Toronto Maple Leafs or even slightly more than that. The Predators will be one of a few teams that could make a deal like that work under their salary cap.
Any new deal might be shorter than Andersen would like, but he will be 32 at the start of next season. A three-year deal is more likely than a five-year deal at this stage of his career. If Andersen is okay with that, then a deal with Nashville could be perfect for him.
By the time Andersen’s deal is finished, Saros should be more than ready to take over the number one job for the Predators.