Apr 4, 2017
Post 2 Post: Andersen becoming an elite puckmover
As TSN Hockey analyst Jamie McLennan explains, Toronto Maple Leaf goaltender Frederik Andersen has mastered the three skills required to be an elite puckmoving goaltender.
Toronto Maple Leaf goaltender Frederik Andersen has mastered the three skills required to be an elite puckmoving goaltender.
The first skill is reading the play.
Before the puck is on your stick, you want to take a snapshot of what's coming.
And Andersen has three options:
The first is that he can leave it for his defenceman, ‘reverse’ it for another Leaf skate to come get it or make a pass to transition the offence.
Check out the video above from this past weekend’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. When Andersen looks over his shoulder, he sees them on a line change. So the right side of the ice is open.
A simple pass off the boards is the right play because winger Nikita Soshnikov can gather speed through the neutral zone and have it lead to a nice goal.
The second skill is assertiveness and the ability to make a quick decision and execute with confidence.
As the video shows, passing to Matt Hunwick or Nazem Kadri would put the Leafs in a tough spot with two forecheckers on their heels, so Andersen flips it into the neutral zone to Auston Matthews.
These types of plays aren't easy for a goaltender, but Andersen never hesitates and makes it look natural - catching the opposition off guard and leading to scoring chances.
The third skill is pinpoint accuracy. In the video, he's on his knees and he still zips it through the air like a quarterback.
And that puck lands right on the tape of William Nylander.
And watch the one from Saturday - with a simple flick of the wrist, he covers 115 feet of ice and hits Connor Brown in perfect stride.
This is elite level stuff when it comes to goaltenders playing the puck.
Andersen has the vision, confidence and accuracy to make plays most other goalies can't.