Toronto Acquires Frederik Andersen

Dobber

2016-06-20

Fantasy Impact: The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired goaltender Frederik Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks for the 30th overall draft pick this weekend, as well as a 2017 second-round pick.

The Ducks get: a quality pick and a bit of cap space, as well as some freedom from another year of 'goalie controversy'. But still, they gave up one of the best goaltenders in the world for a price that was a little on the cheap side. But it's not as though Andersen has had years of proof – just 125 career games (76-26-12, 0.918 SV% career).

The Leafs get: a bit of a risk, but just a small one. Most indicators seem to point to Andersen not only being a stud netminder, but possibly a potential Top 10 or even Top 5 league-wide. In this man's opinion, Andersen was the best goaltender available on the trade or free agent market (and that includes Marc-Andre Fleury). Toronto was quick to sign Andersen, who was a restricted free agent, to a five-year contract. With that kind of investment, they'll be leaning on him heavily for starts. But that's where the risk is: injuries. Seven injuries (six if you don't count the flu as an injury) over the last two seasons. Each of them were minor, but together they form a trend.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Andersen's contract sees to it that he's "the man". That's the respect that he earned in Anaheim, but never got. Thanks to the emergence of John Gibson, Andersen became the Rodney Dangerfield of goaltenders. Had he stayed in Anaheim, you'd be looking at another 40 to 50 games for him. With Toronto, if he stays healthy, he could see 65. How close he comes to that mark will depend on how well he keeps injuries at bay. You can bump Andersen up your goalie ranking list for sure (and it just so happens that our monthly top 100 goalies list is out today and hasn't yet been posted – so this trade was done just in time).

John Gibson also sees a big jump in value. He, too, would have seen 40 to 50 games and now will see upwards of 65. In fact, if he's healthy and because the Ducks don't have a Jonathan Bernier in the shadows, Gibson could even push 70. However, that's a huge "if". Gibson is just as much of a Band-Aid Boy as Andersen is, so the likelihood of his even playing 60 games is a little dicey.

Still with Anaheim, there are several candidates for backup. I think we can write off Matt Hackett, who had a terrible season last year and is now 26. So that leaves Dustin Tokarski, who has been an NHL backup before but is currently a restricted free agent. Or hotshot college goaltender Kevin Boyle, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent two months ago after another great season for UMass-Lowell (24-10-5, 1.83. 0.934). Boyle is 6-2 and 24 years of age – potentially a Mike Condon here. You can read up on Boyle here.

And now we get to Bernier. He would have been the No.1 goalie for Toronto this year and was looking at 60 starts and probably something dismal like 15 or 20 wins (Andersen will steal more). Now he's the backup. His fantasy value has plummeted to just a shade above useless in your league.

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Fantasy Players This Helps, In Order:

1. Andersen (profile, stats, comparison chart here)

2. Gibson (profile, stats, comparison chart here)

3. Boyle (read up on him here)

Fantasy Players This Hurts, In Order:

1. Bernier (profile, stats, comparison chart here)

2. Garret Sparks (read up on him here)

David Goodburn 2016-06-20 at 20:19Log in to Reply

And a 5 year 25 million contract to Andersen. Firmly the Golden Boy in Toronto.
bcfelony 2016-06-20 at 22:31Log in to Reply

Written like a true Leafs fan. He pulls on a blue and white jersey and becomes “one of the best goaltenders in the world”. “A bit of a risk”? He is injury prone and he is getting a 5×5 contract.

Typical for Lou, burn a first rounder to help settle another teams goalie issues. That pick was way too much. This team finished in last place and people are constantly saying they are doing well. Potential this, potential that. Potential doesn’t win hockey games. It’s a losers way of saying “I suck now but I could get better”.
- Dobber 2016-06-20 at 22:45Log in to Reply
  
  1. I’m a Leafs fan, but I’m also a Penguins fan. I also like the Oilers and the Lightning. So does that make me a “true Leafs fan”? I hope not.
  2. I said he was injury prone. Can you re-read that part and remove the Leafs hate from that part of your angry reaction?
  3. If Lou had anything to do with this deal, then I’ll eat my hat. He’s there for his contacts and advice only. I have no faith in him as a GM who actually does deals.
  4. They could burn a 1st because they had an extra one.
  5. Your statement on potential is valid. I back your statement and endorse it 100%. But if all I can do is write about potential, then I’m going to take it. Because otherwise this page would be blank amirite?
  
  I hope the Leafs-hate blinders allowed you to enjoy the rest of the analysis and explore the links that I helpfully provided you so you can do your own research.
  - bcfelony 2016-06-20 at 23:21Log in to Reply
    
    1. You may not be a true Leafs fan but you wrote your analysis like one or someone pandering to them.
    2. Never said you didn’t say that. 5 years to someone who has had a neck/head issue is more that “a bit” of a risk.
    3. If he offered advice or a contact, then he had something to do wil the deal. So eat away.
    4. Stupidest answer of the lot. They are rebuilding. An extra first rounder is not like an extra roll of tape. 5th rounders are throw-ins, not firsts.
    5. Of course it is. But when you write about “possibly potential” of being a top 5 or 10 in the world, you should also mention a “possibly potential” for him to continue to be average.
    
    I don’t hate the Leafs. I hate stupid franchises in every sport being regarded as winners based on the size of there fan base.
    - David Goodburn 2016-06-20 at 23:24Log in to Reply
      
      Dobber has been pumping Andersen as a top flight goalie for years.
      
      It’s undeniable that Leafs are a team on the rise. Best coach in the world, emerging #1 Dman, a slew of young forwards and picks. And now a top end goalie.
      
      Contract is risky but that’s market rate for a starter.
      - bcfelony 2016-06-20 at 23:38
        
        Andersen is good. Dobber is right about that. But this was not smart move. They should not have given up a first rounder, they should not have signed him for 5 years at 5 million per season. He should have received a contract similar to Cam Talbot’s.
        
        Why undeniable? Are the Oilers undeniably also on the rise?
        
        Babcock is good. But 1 Cup in 13 years doesn’t translate as the “best coach in the world”.
      - ChrisP 2016-06-21 at 05:31
        
        It’s not like the Leafs were the only ones calling on Andersen. There was competition for his services and with competition comes demand. If you hate this deal, I can only imagine how much you hated seeing NJ give up the 9th overall pick for Schneider a couple of seasons ago. And for the record, I am not a Leafs fan.
      - djr417 2016-06-24 at 22:22
        
        I HATE the Leafs, but I love how theyre doing the rebuild, wish Benning would start taking notes. Andersen didnt come cheap, nor is he underpaid- but i would take him over Fleury, Elliot in a heart beat. granted his numbers will suffer unless they do something about that D corps- its not even close to what he had in Anaheim.
      - Allan Phillips 2016-06-21 at 06:32
        
        Personally, I think it was a brilliant move. Andersen has proven himself to be solid as long as he stays healthy, and the Leafs grabbed the best goalie who was clearly up for sale. There was much talk about their goalie situation the last couple of months, and as they rebuild, they needed to solidify the position. This move does that in spades, no more questions. A late 1st rounder is nothing for a 1st string goalie. As for Babcock, there’s more to being a top coach than just winning the Cup. Ask Bruce Boudreau, who got fired for not winning but who got snatched up in just a few days. You could see the turnaround starting in terms of more consistent, disciplined play. The idea is to get good enough to contend every year, so that if your team leaders step up and you get a little luck, you can win it. Detroit in the playoffs every year Babcock was there, I think that’s a pretty damn good indicator. And by the way, I am a Blackhawks fan. You just seem like one of the many bitter Leafs fans who naysay everything they do. Relax, man, it’s coming, enjoy the ride.
      - Dobber 2016-06-21 at 06:53
        
        Talbot didn’t prove as much as Andersen has. Andersen is also not yet in his prime. He should get more than Talbot, but not that much more you are right. For that term? They should have gone down $1M per year
    - Dobber 2016-06-21 at 07:00Log in to Reply
      
      You are probably new to this site, but I ‘pander’ to any team who does a smart rebuild. I’ve been pro-Oilers for four years now (embarrassingly so, at this point), pro-Lightning, pro-Florida. And back in the day I was pro-Pittsburgh and pro-Chicago. Rebuild through smart trades and drafting, do it right, and I’ll write glorious stuff about you.
      My Leaf blinders are off, trust me. When people I bump into ask me what the Leafs will do this summer, I told them “first, they have to get the best goalie available – and that’s Freddie Andersen”. True story.
      The 5 year contract is a huge risk given the injuries.
      
      Lammy didn’t make that deal happen, no way. My hat will remain uneaten.
      
      4. Interesting reply. They had 13 draft picks by far a club record. If you’re going to trade a couple of picks at all in franchise history, then this is the year to do so. And if you’re going to do it to fill a positional need, then I think the ‘G’ position is the one to do it for. Goalies are worth more than rolls of tape.
      
      The Leafs have been regarded as losers for a decade. Serious, do-no-right losers. You hate the Leafs if you can’t give them their moment. If it all falls apart this season and they win just 20 games, give them their moment today where they can feel good and hopeful.
      - bcfelony 2016-06-22 at 05:11
        
        The Leafs are losers. Shanahan has had zero actual success. Name one actual thing he has done so far. Sign Babcock? One cup, zero Jack Adams, coaching the last place team is his most recent success. Babcock is massively over rated due to his success with Team Canada. Sign Lou? You said yourself, he doesn’t even weigh in on trading first rounders or on acquiring starting goalies. His talent evaluation of prospects is beyond terrible in the last decade. Make Dubas assistant GM? Zero success at the NHL level. Wow he found Mitch Marner at #4! Hanifin was the better choice.
        
        These are the guys chosen to rebuild this franchise? Coming in last place is their only strategy and then they tie up 9.1 million on goalies when they are still trying to bottom out?
        
        Signing Stamkos should have been their top priority, not trading for Andersen.
      - Dobber 2016-06-22 at 06:17
        
        As if, eh? Zero success for Shanahan after all these years. Fire him!
        
        Hey, sometimes it’s okay not to type things.

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