Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen Cleared to Resume On-Ice Activities
While away on their scheduled bye week ahead of the 2024 All-Star Game, the Carolina Hurricanes shared positive news on Wednesday, revealing goaltender Frederik Andersen can now resume hockey activities.
The 34-year-old netminder hasn’t played since November 2nd after being diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolisms – also known as blood clots.
Andersen has received medication while successfully performing off-ice activities since his diagnosis last fall. Now that he’s cleared for the next step, he’ll ramp up his on-ice workload and conditioning on a limited basis.
“In November, Frederik Andersen was diagnosed with a deep-vein thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolisms,” Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell said Wednesday.
“He has been on anti-coagulation medication since that time, and working with a team of experts to obtain medical opinions as to how he can return to playing safely. Frederik has resumed off-ice activities without complication and will now begin limited on-ice conditioning. We will provide additional updates as the process continues to progress.”
The 6-foot-4 goaltender, currently on injured reserve, has appeared in just six games this season, sporting a 4-1-0 record with a 2.87 GAA and .894 SV%. Separately, he missed time in October after being struck in the mask by a puck.
Injuries have been a constant in the latter half of Andersen’s NHL career, preventing him from playing more than 39 combined contests over the past two seasons. He made just 23 starts in 2020-21 due to a nagging lower-body injury.
“I am thrilled that I’m a step closer to joining my teammates and competing on the ice,” Andersen said. “I feel grateful for the help and support I’ve received from my family and doctors, as well as the entire Hurricanes organization.”
The Herning, Denmark, native was chosen by the Hurricanes in the seventh round in 2010, but he didn’t sign and ultimately became a third-round selection by the Anaheim Ducks two years later.
Andersen spent his first three NHL seasons out West and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team in 2014, winning his first of two William M. Jennings Trophies in ‘16. After helping the franchise to three consecutive playoff berths, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2016-17 season.
In five seasons north of the border, the veteran netminder recorded a 149-74-36 record, 2.79 GAA, .914 SV% and earned 13 shutouts over 268 career games. He made 25 postseason starts, losing 14, registering a 2.78 GAA and .916 SV% with one shutout.
Following the 2020-21 campaign, Andersen signed as a free agent with Carolina, inking a two-year contract. He agreed to another two-year deal last July, which carries through 2024-25 and includes a 15-team no-trade list.
Goaltending has surfaced as a major concern for the Hurricanes this season, as Antti Raanta – who’s assumed the starting role in Andersen’s absence – sits last out of 59 qualified goaltenders (minimum 15 games played) in save percentage (.870) league-wide.
Additionally, Raanta ranks 55th out of 59 netminders in goals saved above expected, at minus-9.9, per MoneyPuck.
Sophomore Pyotr Kochetkov hasn’t fared much better, either, with the 24-year-old fielding a disappointing 2.58 GAA and .900 SV% in 23 games. As such, he’s bounced back and forth between the NHL and AHL throughout the first half of the season.
Looking for much-needed relief, Carolina claimed goaltender Spencer Martin off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 19th. The 28-year-old has made one appearance since then, stopping 26 of 28 shots for the victory in his debut against the Boston Bruins.
While there’s no timetable for Andersen’s return to game action, the Hurricanes are desperate to find stability in goal, likely making them a candidate to pursue a goalie ahead of the March 8th trade deadline.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Jenn G. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.