Craig Anderson To Sign Contract With Senators


He meant so much to the organization for over a decade. Now goaltender Craig Anderson will be signing a one-day contract so that he can retire as a member of the Ottawa Senators.

Anderson got a heartfelt sendoff from the Senators and Ottawa fans after the last game of the season last spring, and now he'll get to officially retire as a member of the franchise for which he is the all-time leader in wins, and many other goaltending categories.

The 42-year-old went 202-168-46 in 10 seasons in Ottawa, with a 2.84 goals against and a .914 save percentage. He finished 4th in Vezina balloting in 2012-13 when he led the NHL with a spectacular 1.69 GAA and an equally eye-popping .941 SV%. Those remain franchise records as well. 

According to hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Senators will honor Anderson before their game against the Buffalo Sabres this coming Tuesday, October 24. That, of course, is fitting, as Anderson spent the last two seasons of his career with Buffalo, and backstopped the Sabres to a 4-3 OT win against Ottawa on that final day of the 2022-23 season. 

Anderson will stay with the Sabres in a "mentorship role", the team has announced, as "hockey liaison."

Anderson's 20-year career wraps up with a 319–275–73 record, a 2.86 GAA, 43 shutouts, and a .912 save percentage in 709 regular-season games. He also added a .929 SV% in 48 playoff games. 

Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports