DALLAS _ As if the Ottawa Senators don’t have enough problems to deal with already, they may have another huge headache on their hands with talk goalie Craig Anderson has asked for a change of scenery by requesting a trade.
Anderson, who signed a two-year extension through 2019-20 worth $4.75 million per season last September, had a 23-25-6 record and an .898 save-percentage last season. Justin Duberman, Anderson’s agent, was tight-lipped when reached Friday morning by this newspaper in Dallas.
Yes, there’s a possibility he could moved this summer, but the reality is there’s not a huge for market for the 37-year-old goalie coming off a bad season and, at the moment, the situation seems fluid which means he could certainly be at training camp in September.
Duberman wouldn’t confirm Anderson, who has been with the Senators for eight seasons, had asked for a trade but the goalie has been around long enough to know the club is in a difficult position to fulfill a request.
There was a report that Duberman had been asked by general manager Pierre Dorion to help facilitate a trade but he indicated that wasn’t the case and Duberman hasn’t had any discussions with any teams regarding Anderson.
“Ottawa has never asked me for help,” Duberman said. “They’re going to do whatever they can to improve their team. If that means they’ll trade Craig Anderson, they’ll trade Craig Anderson.”
This is something Dorion and the Senators don’t need at the moment and it’s doubtful Anderson will be moved in the near future. Dorion spent Friday working the phones while teams were calling about captain Erik Karlsson, centre Zack Smith, defenceman Cody Ceci and centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
The Senators sent winger Mike Hoffman packing last Tuesday after this newspaper reported Melinda Karlsson, the wife of Senators’ captain Erik Karlsson, has requested an order of protection against Hoffman’s fiancee Monika Caryk for alleged cyberbullying last season.
If that’s not enough, the Senators also need to sign winger Mark Stone to a contract extension and the talk here is the two sides aren’t close to a deal. Still, it’s quite possible they’ve just been put on hold because Dorion needs to get through the draft festivities before trying to get a long-term extension in place with Stone.
Stone will almost certainly be back next season because he’s a restricted free agent with rights to arbitration. If Karlsson is dealt then many have Stone as a strong candidate to be the club’s next captain. You really have to wonder what this roster is going to look like next season, especially if Anderson isn’t back.
Not only has Anderson been the club’s top goalie since he arrived here in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche in 2011, he’s one of the most popular players.
Part of this scenario could be related to Anderson’s personal circumstances. It’s possible he wants to be closer to his family because his wife Nicholle, who was cured of a rare form of throat cancer in May, 2017, remained in Florida last season with the couple’s two children.
Yes, Anderson may want a new home, but the reality is, this is a deal that would be very difficult for the Senators to make unless they can find a team that’s looking for a veteran netminder who has playoff experience and is willing to take a chance.
At last year’s trade deadline, the Senators took calls on most of their players except goalies Mike Condon and Anderson. Both had sub-par performances on a team that struggled mightily defensively and the goalie market is flooded this summer with plenty of options for teams looking for help.
Teams are studying the option of dealing for Washington Capitals’ backup Philip Grubauer, who is a restricted free agent and likely doesn’t fit into the club’s plans after Braden Holtby led the club to a Stanley Cup this season.
Beyond Grubauer, Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes, Carter Hutton of the St. Louis Blues and former Ottawa goalie Robin Lehner of the Buffalo Sabres are all set to become unrestricted free agents. The Sabres confirmed Friday they’re not going give Lehner a qualifying offer and he’ll be searcing for work this summer.
Anderson has been a good soldier for the organization and there’s a good chance he’ll bounce back next season because that’s generally been the case throughout his career. That doesn’t mean another team will be willing to gamble that’s going to happen, which means he may have to return to Ottawa.
For now, the Senators will likely have to put this possible trade request on the back burner so if Anderson really does want to move elsewhere he’s going to have to be patient to see how this whole scenario unfolds.
bgarrioch@postmedia.com
Twitter: @sungarrioch