TORONTO -- Frederik Andersen is just four starts away from equaling his career high for a season set in Anaheim two years ago -- and there's still a quarter of the season to go.
That's life as an uncontested No. 1 after his trade from the Anaheim Ducks to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer, subsequently signing a five-year deal worth $25 million -- and trying to prove that GM Lou Lamoriello wasn't out of his mind for putting his faith in the 27-year-old Denmark native who had been sharing the net with John Gibson last season.
Andersen's 24 wins are tied for 10th in the NHL, and although there have been ups and downs in his play, he has been the workhorse the Leafs had hoped for. And let's face it, Toronto's mediocre-at-times defensive coverage hasn't actually helped him, either.
If the move to hockey-crazy Toronto can be overwhelming to some, it hasn't been for Andersen, always gracious with his time for the media (even after a morning skate on game days, by the way, when some goalies around the league don't talk) and his warm smile most often greets those entering the dressing room on a daily basis.
Cobra..........
Freddie has got the secret to survival in Toronto..........talk to the media and they`ll either ignore mistakes you make or shift the blame to others. Be a quiet introvert is doomsday waiting to happen in Toronto....the media will wait but be sure they are only waiting to attack you, your game, your personality, your family (Reimer`s case) etc etc......talking to the media in Toronto is as important as your game and Kadri is the perfect example. Good interviews, lots of interviews gives the media people something to write, it gives them a job....a story is a story to them good or bad, win or lose it`s the story that`s the important issue.....not winning (at least from the media`s perspective). Remember that Freddie cause they`ll turn on you like a pack of wolves.....the secret..keep talking.
BTW Freddie...
Toss up a stinker against the hated Habs tonite in Toronto and we`ll see how much Freddie loves the media`s hatchet job they do on him. GO LEAFS GO!!!