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Frederik Andersen signs 2-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes

Freddy Andersen will have a new home for the next 2 years in Carolina. He has signed a 2 year deal worth 4.5M AAV.

Andersen was nearly 21 before he was drafted; the Carolina Hurricanes selected him in the seventh round (No. 187) in the 2010 NHL Draft. Realizing the Hurricanes had an entrenched starter in Cam Ward and goaltending depth in their system, Andersen chose not to sign and remained in Europe, playing 2010-11 in Denmark before joining Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League in 2011-12.

The Anaheim Ducks selected Andersen in the third round (No. 87) of the 2012 NHL Draft, and this time Andersen opted to come to North America. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 20, 2013, replacing Jonas Hiller to start the second period in a 6-3 victory against the Dallas Stars. Andersen shut the Stars out in the final two periods, making 24 saves.

After Hiller signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames on July 1, 2014, Andersen and John Gibson formed a strong goaltending tandem in Anaheim. Andersen, now the No. 1 goalie, had a 35-12-5 record, with a 2.38 GAA and a .914 save percentage to help the Ducks advance to the 2015 Western Conference Final.

Andersen earned his 50th NHL victory in his 68th game on March 3, 2015, tying Hockey Hall of Famer Bill Durnan’s record as the fastest goalie in NHL history to reach the 50-win mark. At that point, Andersen’s won-loss record was 50-13-5; Durnan was 50-9 with nine ties.

In 2015-16, Andersen and Gibson won the William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded to the goalies on the team that allows the fewest goals during the regular season. Anderson and Gibson allowed 192.

But with Andersen set to become an unrestricted free agent, the Ducks decided they couldn’t keep both goalies. On June 20, 2016, they traded Andersen to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who quickly signed him to a five-year contract.

Andersen immediately staked his claim as the No. 1 goalie in Toronto. He started and finished 66 games in each of his first two seasons with the Maple Leafs, winning 33 games in 2016-17 and 38 in 2017-18, helping Toronto make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2002-03 and 2003-04. Andersen continued to be a reliable workhorse in goal. He tied Chris Osgood as the fourth-fastest goalie to reach 200 wins when Toronto defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 on Dec. 14, 2019. Win No. 200 came in his 344th NHL appearance. Andersen also was selected to play in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game.

Igor Burdetskiy

Igor Burdetskiy

Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & CEO at Hooked on Hockey Magazine
I grew up playing Ball and Roller Hockey day and night somewhat religiously throughout elementary and middle school. The two don't compare though when I lace up the skates and hit the ice. I live and breathe hockey beyond the perspective of "it's just a game" and I will gladly talk hockey for hours with anyone. Hockey is more than just a lifestyle, it's a culture of passionate people who make memories every time the puck is dropped. Hockey has not only helped me get through some of the hardest times in life but has created some of the best memories to date. Want to talk hockey with me? Shoot me an email: iburdetskiy@hookedonhockey.com and let's talk some hockey!
Igor Burdetskiy
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