By Jordan Long
The Ottawa Senators finished the season at 25-34-12 for 62 points, 2nd worst in the NHL. The only team that had fewer points was the Detroit Red Wings with 39. The Senators missed the postseason for the 3rd year in a row. They have decisions coming this offseason to try to become a playoff team. They have decided not to re-sign goaltender Craig Anderson.
Anderson has been with the Senators since 2011. The Colorado Avalanche traded him after 1 year. In his time with Ottawa, he became their most successful goaltender in franchise history. Anderson started in a franchise high 422 games. His record was 202-168-46 with a goals against average of 2.84 and a save percentage of .914. The wins are the most in the history of the Ottawa Senators.
Ottawa made the postseason 4 times with him. The furthest they went was the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 7 games.
This year Anderson was awful in net. His record was a disappointing 11-17-2 with a goals against average of 3.25 and a save percentage of .902. It is the second consecutive year he failed to win more than 20 games.
Anderson is a free agent. Ottawa decided it was best to let him go. According to ESPN, Ottawa Senators’ General Manager Pierre Dorion said, “He’s the best goalie we’ve ever had. It’s time for us to take another direction, and we thank him for everything he did.”
Ottawa must have felt this is the right move to make. Anderson is getting up in age. He is 39. There aren’t many goaltenders who play the NHL game at that age. They also have two other goaltenders on the roster and they might try to sign one in free agency.
The goaltenders left for Ottawa are Anders Nilsson and Marcus Hogberg. Nilsson went 9-9-2 for Ottawa with a save percentage of .908 and a goals against average of 3.18. Hogberg’s record wasn’t much better at 5-8-8 with a save percentage of .904 and a goals against average of 3.12. These two goalies could help Ottawa next year, but the wins may not be there.
Ottawa should look into the free agent market to sign a veteran goaltender. Those available are Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford who both have playoff experience. Holtby went 25-14-6 for Washington this year with a goals against average of 3.11 and a save percentage of .897. He helped the Capitals make the postseason but they were defeated in the 1st round by the New York Islanders in 5 games. In his career, Holtby appeared in 97 playoff games for the Capitals. His record is 50-46 with a goals against average of 2.13 with a save percentage of .926. The Capitals won the Stanley Cup with him in 2018.
Crawford was a disappointing 16-20-3 with a goals against average of 2.77 and a save percentage of .917 for the Chicago Blackhawks. Crawford helped the Blackhawks get past the qualifying round before falling in the 1st-round to Las Vegas in 5 games. Crawford’s career playoff record is 52-42 with a goals against average of 2.38 and a save percentage of .918. Crawford helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015.
Both of these goaltenders would improve the Senators. Right now, the Senators have around $39.5 million in cap space. That is more than enough to agree to a contract with Holtby, Crawford, or any other free agent goaltender. Once that is done there should still be money to sign more free agents to improve the team
For Anderson, it is time to retire. His age showed this season. He can’t play the NHL game at a high level anymore. Anderson should take the time this offseason to make the difficult choice to end his NHL career.
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