Craig Anderson is a professional ice hockey goaltender who has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 18 seasons. He began his career in 1999 when he was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft. However, he did not make his NHL debut until the 2002-2003 season when he played in just one game for the Blackhawks.
Anderson spent the next few seasons bouncing between the NHL and the minor leagues, playing for several different teams including the Norfolk Admirals, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, and the Rochester Americans. In 2006, he signed with the Florida Panthers and became their starting goaltender for the next three seasons.
During his time with the Panthers, Anderson established himself as a reliable goaltender and helped lead the team to the playoffs in 2012. He also set a franchise record for most saves in a single game with 53 saves in a game against the New York Islanders.
In 2009, Anderson was traded to the Colorado Avalanche where he continued to play at a high level. He set a franchise record for most saves in a single season with 2,233 saves during the 2009-2010 season. He also helped lead the Avalanche to the playoffs in 2010.
After three seasons with the Avalanche, Anderson signed with the Ottawa Senators in 2011. He quickly became the team's starting goaltender and helped lead them to the playoffs in his first season with the team. In 2013, he set a franchise record for most wins in a single season with 33 wins.
Anderson continued to play for the Senators for the next several seasons, earning a reputation as one of the league's top goaltenders. He was named to the NHL All-Star Game in 2012 and 2015 and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2013.
In 2017, Anderson helped lead the Senators to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also set a franchise record for most playoff wins in a single season with 11 wins.
Anderson continued to play for the Senators until 2021 when he was traded to the Washington Capitals. He played in just 9 games for the Capitals before announcing his retirement from the NHL in 2022.
Throughout his career, Anderson was known for his consistency and his ability to make big saves in crucial moments. He finished his career with a record of 289-251-70, a save percentage of .913, and a goals against average of 2.84. He also recorded 42 shutouts during his career.
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