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Anders Nilsson taking next step with Senators

By Naftali Clinton

SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 16: Goaltender Anders Nilsson #31 of the Ottawa Senators skates back to the net after a break in the action against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on December 16, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 16: Goaltender Anders Nilsson #31 of the Ottawa Senators skates back to the net after a break in the action against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on December 16, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Anders Nilsson is considered by many to be the Ottawa Senators starter in net for at least this year and the next. Him and Anderson have been a great duo together and hope to continue their success in the crease.

Standing a 6-foot-7 and 232 lbs, Nilsson basically covers the whole net. The Swedish native was traded to the Ottawa Senators late last season, in a trade where the Senators didn’t really give up anything.

Ottawa received Anders Nilsson and Darren Archibald, in exchange for Tom Pyatt and, then-back up goalie Mike McKenna. Vancouver also received a sixth round pick to boot.

So in essence we gave up nothing for a solid goalie, who can eat up a lot of starts. He had a very good end to the year last year going 11-11-0, with a 2.90 and 0.914.

This year he started strong but isn’t playing as well down the stretch, to go with some injuries he’s dealing with at the moment.

He’s 9-9-2 with a 3.18 and 0.908 this year, consistent but no flash. If the Senators are going to go anywhere this season it will be on the back of Nilsson, who is the catalyst in most Senators victories this year.

He’s signed to a modest cap hit, $2.6 million through next season, while Marcus Hogberg, who is starting tonight is on a one-way deal next year. So that leaves no room for Anderson who is likely going to be traded anyway at the deadline.

The 29-year old goalie bounced around the league a bit before landing with his 6th team, the Ottawa Senators.

With Hogberg pushing for a regular spot in the NHL, and the recent stellar play of Craig Anderson, it seems Pierre Dorion will have to make an important decision very soon regarding Anderson.

His trade value is up a bit since his last two starts, and a trade partner might show up in the coming weeks for the ageing goaltender.

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