Many (read: most) things have changed for the Ottawa Senators over the course of recent history, but at least for the last ten years, Craig Anderson has been a constant. As most good things do with time, that era in franchise history is coming to an end. In his availability with the media yesterday, Senators GM Pierre Dorion confirmed that the team would not be extending a contract offer to the veteran goaltender, who is entering unrestricted free agency at the age of 39.
Whether there’s a market out there now for a veteran goaltender like Anderson remains a big question mark, especially considering his age. However, that doesn’t change anything about the last decade. He has been, quite simply, the best goaltender in Senators franchise history. He ranks first in games played, first in wins, second in shutouts, second in playoff games played, and tied for first in playoff games won. Like I said, he’s been a constant.
To get that kind of value out of a trade that saw Brian Elliott sent to the Colorado Avalanche is almost unbelievable. Even in their wildest dreams, it’s hard to imagine that the Sens’ front office thought that Anderson would have this kind of long-term impact on the organization.
Beyond the games played and other numbers, Anderson helped author some truly wonderful moments while wearing Senators red. His returns to the ice after taking time away to support his wife Nicholle during her battle with cancer had divine intervention written all over them. Whether he was delivering shutout performances in returns during the regular season, or heroics in playoff overtime and subsequent hugs in the stands, or elite goaltending almost every night during a memorable run to the Eastern Conference Final, Anderson and his family wrote one of the best stories in sport over the course of that year. It’s no surprise that he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2016-17.
Even during the not-so-magical moments, like when he reportedly asked for a trade out of Ottawa, Anderson was never anything but a consummatcone professional. That steady, consistent presence is what allowed him to become such a fixture in the Ottawa crease, and it’s also what should land him in the team’s Ring of Honour at the earliest possible moment.
In short, there’s only one thing left to say: Thank you, Craig.
As always, thanks for reading.
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