Frederik Andersen’s First AHL Game Leaves Leafs With Questions

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has been out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury since March 19, appeared in his first AHL game since 2014 on a conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies Thursday night. While he wasn’t horrible, he wasn’t great either, and it leaves the NHL club with some serious question marks as the playoffs near.

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Rise of Jack Campbell

To begin the 2020-21 season, Andersen was the Leafs undisputed number one goaltender. Though he didn’t have a great 2019-20 campaign, posting an underwhelming 2.85 goals against average (GAA) and a .909 save percentage (SV%), most expected him to bounce back and be one of the leagues better starters as he had been in previous years. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

Prior to his injury, the 31-year-old had really struggled, putting up a 2.91 GAA and a .897 SV% through 23 games. When he went down, the teams backup goalie in Jack Campbell not only replaced him, but outperformed him in a big way. He set an NHL record after starting the season 11-0-0, and still sits at a very impressive 16-2-2, while also having a 2.11 GAA and a .924 SV%. Based on the numbers, it would seem like it would be an easy decision on who to start once the playoffs begin.

Lack of Experience

Unfortunately for Campbell, the one thing he has going against him is the fact he is not very experienced at the NHL level. In fact, at 29-years-old, he has appeared in just 84 career games. While he has been very good during his short NHL career, he has zero playoff experience. With the pressure the Leafs are under to be the team to get out of the North Division this year, it is a lot to ask of him to lead them in the playoffs.

It appears that when Andersen is ready to return to the Leafs, he will at the very least be given the backup position given that David Rittich, who was acquired from the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline, has really struggled in his brief stint with the team. However, given how much more experience Andersen has than Campbell, it will be a tough decision for Sheldon Keefe on who to go to for the playoffs.

Major Concern for a Great Team

There is no denying how talented this Leafs roster is. With superstars in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, two savvy veterans like Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza, along with some great blueliners led by Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly, it is obvious why they are the favorites in the North Division. Had Andersen been able to perform like he has in years past, they would be one of the top contenders in the entire league to win the Stanley Cup.

Unfortunately for them, Andersen has really struggled this season, and while his game with the Marlies in which he allowed two goals on 14 shots was his first in nearly two months, it still makes for some serious concern. He will get a full 60 minutes with the Marlies tomorrow night, rather than the 30 he played in his first game back. Perhaps he is able to figure things out and get back to what he once was. If he isn’t, it could open the door for another playoff collapse from this great lineup, something we have seen from this group in the past.

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