Craig Anderson's cool new mask

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I also noticed last game that he was directing traffic in his own zone. Not sure how common that is but I never really noticed it with Elliott or Leclaire this season.

Neither did it, which was a huge problem in the defensive zone. The goalie sees absolutely everything out there and he needs to communicate it up to the D. Everygoalie says "man on" or "got time" but guys like Elliott and Leclaire never really directed traffic or moved the puck up to his players like Anderson does.

I think next will be a very good season in terms of growth and seeing some guys get back to form with Anderson in nets. The two guys who I have really noticed in terms of turning their games around in the last month are Phillips and Kuba. I don't think it's a cowinky dink that Anderson has been in nets since.

I actually started to see signs of Kuba turning it around before Anderson got here but that could have been because they were playing the crap out of him to showcase him and the extra ice time probably helped get him out of his funk.

NEELY wrote:Meh, I would say 3.5 is close to market value but the value to The Sens is probably a little more if he can play consistantly and keep The Sens in games for most of the season next year. He doesn't have to be as good as he has been every single game next year, just needs to give the kids a chance to win some nights where they have no business being in the game.

This is the one area where they can't afford to let this guy walk. He's a true number 1, he's proven he is a Vezina type goalie, and he communicates with his D and moves the puck very, very well. Worth more to The Sens than 95% of the teams out there.

Let's settle down a little (Vezina-type goalie). He's had one great season.

Big Ev wrote:

NEELY wrote:Meh, I would say 3.5 is close to market value but the value to The Sens is probably a little more if he can play consistantly and keep The Sens in games for most of the season next year. He doesn't have to be as good as he has been every single game next year, just needs to give the kids a chance to win some nights where they have no business being in the game.

This is the one area where they can't afford to let this guy walk. He's a true number 1, he's proven he is a Vezina type goalie, and he communicates with his D and moves the puck very, very well. Worth more to The Sens than 95% of the teams out there.

Let's settle down a little (Vezina-type goalie). He's had one great season.

He is a Vezina type goaltender, he's proven that. He's also had more than "one great season". He has shown over the course of 3 or 4 years now just how good of a goaltender he is. Just because it took him a couple years to find a starters role that was available doesn't mean his only good or great year was last year. He was arguably the best goaltender in The NHL for 1/2 of the 08/09 season in Florida.

Either way, Anderson is showing why he is a true number 1 right now and like he has the past 3 season's. He has the ability to play 65-70 games and carry a team, that's a Vezina type goaltender.

Agent Smith: You hear that Mr. Anderson?... That is the sound of inevitability... It is the sound of your death... Goodbye, Mr. Anderson...
Neo: My name... is Neo.

Neo: What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?
Morpheus: No, Neo. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready, you won't have to.

Neo: I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid... you're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you.

This is the one! They should play this at games for sure. Right before OT or a shoot out.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I actually started to see signs of Kuba turning it around before Anderson got here but that could have been because they were playing the crap out of him to showcase him and the extra ice time probably helped get him out of his funk.

He was playing no pressure hockey at that point... he's been playign fantastic hockey in the last 2 or 3 weeks though. You are starting to see the top 4 Kuba again... might be a good thing going into next year because they need that vet on the blueline with 2 rookies.

I think the odd man out will be Brian Lee, I've loved his game the last 2 months (last 2 games he's been awful), but there are just too many RH shots and he's taking up a spot they obviously want for Rundblad. He is probably a guy you could move for a 3rd round pick at this point.

My problem with him is that he plays well when under no pressure at all. This season the Avs were predicted to do well and make the playoffs, and he had a bad year (and also got injured). He's still very much unproven in that sense...the jury's still out on how well he'll do over the coruse of a year in a Canadian hockey environment. I want to sign him but I will also lower my expectations for him.

I've read a lot of people who have followed this guy closely over the last two seasons, and they say he's pretty inconsistent and plays terribly when things aren't going his way/ the team in front of him is letting him down.

NEELY wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I actually started to see signs of Kuba turning it around before Anderson got here but that could have been because they were playing the crap out of him to showcase him and the extra ice time probably helped get him out of his funk.

He was playing no pressure hockey at that point... he's been playign fantastic hockey in the last 2 or 3 weeks though. You are starting to see the top 4 Kuba again... might be a good thing going into next year because they need that vet on the blueline with 2 rookies.

I think the odd man out will be Brian Lee, I've loved his game the last 2 months (last 2 games he's been awful), but there are just too many RH shots and he's taking up a spot they obviously want for Rundblad. He is probably a guy you could move for a 3rd round pick at this point.

Kuba? You mean the guy wer'e gonna buy-out in the summer?

Here's the other thing about Anderson. He proved last year that he could start 70 games, but before that he didn't start more 27 games in a season. So really, he is still unproven and my issue is signing him to a 3 year deal and him sucking because he knows he has the big bucks guaranteed now.

Big Ev wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I actually started to see signs of Kuba turning it around before Anderson got here but that could have been because they were playing the crap out of him to showcase him and the extra ice time probably helped get him out of his funk.

He was playing no pressure hockey at that point... he's been playign fantastic hockey in the last 2 or 3 weeks though. You are starting to see the top 4 Kuba again... might be a good thing going into next year because they need that vet on the blueline with 2 rookies.

I think the odd man out will be Brian Lee, I've loved his game the last 2 months (last 2 games he's been awful), but there are just too many RH shots and he's taking up a spot they obviously want for Rundblad. He is probably a guy you could move for a 3rd round pick at this point.

Kuba? You mean the guy wer'e gonna buy-out in the summer?

Same guy, yup. If he plays like that there is no reason too. Things change quickly in hockey and he's forcing everyone to take a 2nd look. Good on him. I respect a player that can fight back. Seems when Ottawa dumped a lot of dead weight a lot of players games picked up.

Big Ev wrote:Here's the other thing about Anderson. He proved last year that he could start 70 games, but before that he didn't start more 27 games in a season. So really, he is still unproven and my issue is signing him to a 3 year deal and him sucking because he knows he has the big bucks guaranteed now.

So, what are the other options? You have a guy who is a proven number 1 goaltender and has proven he can steal games vs literally nothing at all.

Is there a risk that signing Anderson will back fire? Of course, any signing has that risk, look at Lungo in Vancouver. If he chokes in the playoffs again this year that stigma is going to be next to impossible to shake.

The long term investment in Ottawa is Lehner and they need him to play a ton of games in The AHL before he gets a real shot in Ottawa, Anderson is a stop gap and a very good one at that until that time comes. If he flops (which I don't think he will, not that it matters what I think) then people will chalk it up to a young team learning the ropes.

The fact is the goaltending situation was up in the air to say the least going into next season and Murray going out and getting Anderson has settled things down to the point the team in front of him has confidence again and they are playing a less fearful type of game. They need that stability in nets and signing Anderson is 100% a risk worth taking, little downside, extremely high upside.

NEELY wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Here's the other thing about Anderson. He proved last year that he could start 70 games, but before that he didn't start more 27 games in a season. So really, he is still unproven and my issue is signing him to a 3 year deal and him sucking because he knows he has the big bucks guaranteed now.

So, what are the other options? You have a guy who is a proven number 1 goaltender and has proven he can steal games vs literally nothing at all.

Is there a risk that signing Anderson will back fire? Of course, any signing has that risk, look at Lungo in Vancouver. If he chokes in the playoffs again this year that stigma is going to be next to impossible to shake.

The long term investment in Ottawa is Lehner and they need him to play a ton of games in The AHL before he gets a real shot in Ottawa, Anderson is a stop gap and a very good one at that until that time comes. If he flops (which I don't think he will, not that it matters what I think) then people will chalk it up to a young team learning the ropes.

The fact is the goaltending situation was up in the air to say the least going into next season and Murray going out and getting Anderson has settled things down to the point the team in front of him has confidence again and they are playing a less fearful type of game. They need that stability in nets and signing Anderson is 100% a risk worth taking, little downside, extremely high upside.

I didn't say I didn't want to sign him, I've been an advocate of signing him since we got him. I just think the dollar amounts and expectations for Anderson are getting a little extreme. I want to sign him for sure and I will be fine with 3 x 3.

Big Ev wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Here's the other thing about Anderson. He proved last year that he could start 70 games, but before that he didn't start more 27 games in a season. So really, he is still unproven and my issue is signing him to a 3 year deal and him sucking because he knows he has the big bucks guaranteed now.

So, what are the other options? You have a guy who is a proven number 1 goaltender and has proven he can steal games vs literally nothing at all.

Is there a risk that signing Anderson will back fire? Of course, any signing has that risk, look at Lungo in Vancouver. If he chokes in the playoffs again this year that stigma is going to be next to impossible to shake.

The long term investment in Ottawa is Lehner and they need him to play a ton of games in The AHL before he gets a real shot in Ottawa, Anderson is a stop gap and a very good one at that until that time comes. If he flops (which I don't think he will, not that it matters what I think) then people will chalk it up to a young team learning the ropes.

The fact is the goaltending situation was up in the air to say the least going into next season and Murray going out and getting Anderson has settled things down to the point the team in front of him has confidence again and they are playing a less fearful type of game. They need that stability in nets and signing Anderson is 100% a risk worth taking, little downside, extremely high upside.

I didn't say I didn't want to sign him, I've been an advocate of signing him since we got him. I just think the dollar amounts and expectations for Anderson are getting a little extreme. I want to sign him for sure and I will be fine with 3 x 3.

We're a Dung team in a Dung location, and we aren't going to be spending to the cap for years. If it takes a million more per year to get this thing done and make Anderson happy, who gives a Dung? I'd do $3.5 x 3 or bit more just to have this point settled. Easily.

Pretty much what Rooney said. You need to spend the money where it will help the team grow the quickest and with the best results, goaltending is the only way to go along with a coach.

Those are the two musts going into next year. A true number 1 and a coach that's ready to work with a young team.

3 mil vs 3.5 is literally pennies when talking about the long term growth of The Sens. If that's what it takes then that's what has to be done because if Anderson drags The Sens to a 7th or 8th place finish (which is just as possible as a 12th or 13th place finish) then it pays for itself.

3.5 is fine. I was referrnig to the 4+ million that I read from some people (maybe it was on anoter site?).

I still think we need to finish in the basement next year in order to truly rebuild, so I don't want Anderson helping us finish in 9th place or something.

Big Ev wrote:3.5 is fine. I was referrnig to the 4+ million that I read from some people (maybe it was on anoter site?).

I still think we need to finish in the basement next year in order to truly rebuild, so I don't want Anderson helping us finish in 9th place or something.

If it's short term, ie 2 years, than ya, I would say 4 mil is fair as well. I think 3 years at 3.5 is the perfect contract, personally.