After a breakout 10-0 run, backup goalie Jack Campbell plans on taking the starting job from long-time veteran and fan favorite Frederik Andersen (Picture: Derek Leung/Getty Images)
The serviceable Frederik Andersen has had a long career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The aging goaltender has seen his fair share of tumultuous seasons for the Leafs and his production has been dipping in the last handful of seasons. With high-level production on the back burner, as well as a season ending injury, the emergence of Jack Campbell has been at the forefront of a contending Maple Leafs franchise that has been lacklustre for a majority of it’s latter history. From his storied breakthrough at the organization to his statistical upticks, the phenomenon of Jack Campbell has many fans excited for the immediate future of the team.
Coming into the league off a high draft stock, hand and knee injuries as well as stints in the development league left Jack Campbell distraught and inexperienced as a goaltender during his time in Dallas and Los Angeles. However it was simply a matter of organizational fit, as Campbell made a seamless transition to the Leafs and has now broken the franchise record with 10 consecutive wins as a goaltender. Andersen on the other hand, had a storied career in his native Denmark before splitting his NHL career between the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs. The 2017-2018 was his best statistical season, having seen sizable drop-offs in save percentage and goals ever since.
Although it is a small sample size, Jack Campbell has impressed in his first 10 games as starting goalie for Toronto. Campbell boasts a save percentage of .944, which would be the highest in the league if he qualified to be included in that statistical category. Prior to his injury, Andersen had a .897 save percentage in 23 games which is below his career average .915 save percentage. This indicates Frederik Andersen is having a down year. He has also had 66 GA in his shortened season, which, adjusted to a whole season, would mean his GA on the season would be a career-worst 198 (just counting his North American career). Campbell’s GAA of 1.35 is also less than half that of Andersen’s 2.91, though Andersen has only played roughly 10 more games. Even with Campbell playing only a third of the available minutes for the Toronto Maple Leafs, his efficient goaltending indicates an upward trend in the 29-year old’s career trajectory. Fredrick Andersen's regression coupled with Jack Campbell's ascension has led to a whirlwind of trade speculation involving Andersen. A trade before the deadline could potentially open a permanent spot in the roster for Campbell allowing him to further improve on his impressive performance through his first 10 games. With the ascension of the Toronto Maple Leafs as a serious threat in the playoffs, the need for an efficient and stable goaltender is vital for the team’s success. Finally living up to his selection as the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, Jack Campbell has cemented his place as the Leaf’s outstanding goaltender this campaign, even if the “late bloomer” is only coming into his own as an NHL goalie at age 29. Nevertheless, Campbell along with the Leafs core of Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Nylander are gearing up for an exciting play-off run ahead of them.
Sources:
https://www.nhl.com/player/jack-campbell-8475789 - Jack Campbell stats (GA, GAA Save %)
https://www.nhl.com/player/frederik-andersen-8475883 - Frederik Andersen stats (GA, GAA Save %)
https://www.espn.com/nhl/statistics - Career Stats for both players
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