Andersen's Return Might Not Be As Quick As Originally Expected, If At All.

November 2nd was the last time Frederik Andersen was between the pipes for the Hurricanes. It had been rumored that Andersen would be back to practices by the end of December, but the calendar has turned without Freddie suiting up. When, if at all, Frederik Andersen makes it back to the crease remains to be seen.

Given Andersen's propensity for injury and the serious nature of this sidelining, there is a very high likelihood the Hurricanes have seen the last of The Great Dane. If that is the case, the 92 games Carolina got from Andersen were high caliber.

With an overall record of 60-26-4 and a GAA of 2.50 no one can say Andersen's time with the Hurricanes was wasted. Tack on the 2021-22 William M. Jennings Trophy, presented annually to the goalies who play a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals (202) during the regular season. Andersen, and fellow Canes net tender Antti Raanta combined to win the award for the first time in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history.

But in each of the three season here in Carolina, Frederik Andersen has missed games for one injury or another. The longest of these stretched through the end of the 2021-22 regular season, and the entire playoff run. While he did make the 2022-23 playoffs (and played to a 5-3-0 1.84 GAA, .927 S% line) he missed multiple games twice during the regular season.

4 wins might be the best Frederik Andersen manages this season for the Carolina Hurricanes. And, no one is going to be upset by that. In fact, that might be worth a ticker tape parade down Raleigh's Fayetteville Street in a convertible with Governor Roy Cooper. Should that be the case, you can count me in the throngs of Hurricanes fans in attendance to cheer Frederik Andersen along. Despite not being his biggest fan, I for one won't let that get in the way of celebrating an over-all successful goalie like Freddie Andersen