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Andersen Deal Fallout: A Big Win for All

June 21, 2016, 8:57 PM ET [85 Comments]
Ed Stein
Anaheim Ducks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Yesterday the Ducks traded restricted free agent (RFA) goalie Frederik Andersen to Toronto for a pair of high draft choices. The way this deal played out makes it a win for everyone and I mean just about everyone involved. Here are the winners and why.

Anaheim Ducks

For all the talk about the weak goalie market, Ducks GM Bob Murray came out further ahead than anyone thought he could. Last week I wrote that Murray would be happy to get a second round pick for Andersen. He got that in a 2017 second, but that wasn't the best part. The deal also included a 2016 1st round pick (#30).

For Andersen to get the contract he deserves, it would have to be somewhere other than Anaheim. Everyone in the league knew Murray could not afford to resign Andersen, Hampus Lindholm, Rickard Rakell and Sami Vatanen, all RFAs, due to the Ducks internal budget. John Gibson's three year $6.9M extension kicks in at the beginning of July making him the team's goalie of the present. Murray was able to get a first and second round pick for a player that more than likely wouldn't start in Anaheim next season and who he couldn't resign. A genuine case of making lemonade from lemons.

Toronto Maple Leafs

No way could TML have hoped for a better a solution to their recent goaltending maladies than Andersen. GM Lou Lamoriello acquired a number one netminder who hasn't turned 27 yet. How many current goalies his age have been his team's main man in a conference final? Its conceivable that Andersen could be manning Toronto's net for the next decade.

Additionally, for all the crap TML took for trading Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh, they used the first round pick acquired in the deal to get Andersen.

Jonathan Bernier

Unfortunately for Bernier, he arrived in Toronto a year or so too early. He is better than he played he played last season. The pressure is now off him in 2017-18. It looks like he may wind up being the number one goalie for what could turn out to be the most competitive expansion franchise in NHL history.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Traded the #30 overall pick (and other considerations) to Toronto for a player that was a major cog in their cup winning season.

Frederik Andersen

Andersen knew the handwriting was on the wall regarding Gibson. He wound up with a team that has a huge amount of young talent and after catching up with the learning curve, could be an Eastern Conference powerhouse for years. Andersen will be able to go into his prime supporting future superstars Auston Matthews, Nazim Kadri, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Morgan Reilly. Not a bad gig.

Andersen had very little control over his NHL fate and easily could have been in a much worse situation.

Ed's Temper

I can't tell you how many times spell check has changed Frederik Andersen on me.

In the big picture, it looks like everyone wins.
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