Goaltender Craig Anderson will start the final game of the Sabres’ season at home against the Senators. Facing the franchise where he played his best hockey will be a fitting end to Anderson’s season and perhaps his career.
On Thursday’s edition of Daily Faceoff Live, host and former Anderson teammate Mike McKenna reflected on the impact of the 300-game-winner, and whether he still has a part to play in Buffalo.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Craig Anderson was in the starter’s crease at the Sabres’ morning skate. It sounds like they could give him game 82. If it’s his final one, Mike, what a perfect sendoff it would be.
Mike McKenna: It would be for the all-time winningest goaltender of the Ottawa Senators. I think the world of Craig Anderson, someone who has been in the NHL for 20 different seasons. He’s 41 years old, the oldest player in the NHL, and he still managed to put up a .908 save percentage this year. He’s got well over 300 wins in his career, 318 total.
If this is it he’d probably be best remembered for that magical 2017 playoff run with the Ottawa Senators to the Eastern Conference Finals. He had a .929 career save percentage in the playoffs, a big-time performer.
Craig said that he could go either way, he could come back or go to Florida and coach his kids in baseball, whatever is best for him. I will say this, though, the Buffalo Sabres have Devon Levi coming in and he’s going to need a mentor. I’m not sure if Eric Comrie or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is going to be that guy, straight up.
You also have to think, can Craig play 30 games or more if needed? I don’t know how this is going to go but if this is the end of the road for Craig Anderson, what a career, what a friend, what a teammate.
I’m happy I still get to catch up with him when he comes through St. Louis, because like I said, this is one of the best locker room guys you can imagine. In his early career, and he will tell you this, he was not, and that is something he can do for Levi and that he has done for Buffalo this year. He’s been huge, congrats to Craig Anderson, whatever you choose to do, I’ll support you, buddy.
You can watch the entire episode here…
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