2020 NHL UFA Top 75: Craig Anderson and Brad Richardson

Mar 7, 2020; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture (39) controls the puck against Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson (41) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the DailyFaceoff UFA preview. Over the next 15 days, I’ll be profiling the top 30 players in this years UFA class, as listed by TSN. Contract information is from our friends at Puckpedia. Full UFA list via puckpedia here. Analytics provided by hockeyviz.com and naturalstattrick.com. Contract projections are done by evolving-hockey.com with the presumption contracts are signed between Aug. – Oct. 11.

Today, we’re looking at the 75th ranked @Craig Anderson and the 74th ranked @Brad Richardson.

@Craig Anderson

After it was announced the other week Anderson would not be receiving a new contract from the Ottawa Senators, the 39-year-old will be hitting the free-agent market. He has nearly been the face of the franchise since he was acquired by Ottawa in Feb. 2011 for Brian Elliott.

Originally drafted by the Calgary FLames in the 3rd round of the 1999 draft, Anderson has been a rock for the Senators for the past decade.

In 435 games there, he’s posted a 2020-168-46 record with a .914 save percentage. However, in the last three years Anderson’s game has been in a decline. In the last 142 games over that time frame, he’s posted a 51-69-12 record and a .901 save percentage. While the team in front of him has struggled, so has he.

Anderson may still be able to work as a servicable back up goaltender to an organization that feels confident in the ability for their number 1 to play upwards of 60 games in a season. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be putting much stock into Anderson if I were an NHL franchise looking to address goaltending concerns.

Contract projection: N/A

@Brad Richardson

Richardson, 35, is coming off his fifth-year playing for the Arizona Coyotes as a second-to-third line player. Never known for his point production, Richardson scored six goals and 11 points in 59 games this year.

He played just over 13 and a half minutes this year winning 54 percent of the 658 faceoffs he took. Analytically Richardson showed some warts this past year.

He had a 5v5 CF% of 43.44 and a 5v5 goals for rate of 47.62 percent. His 5v5 expected goals rate was 45.25 percent. Now, these numbers are all significantly lower than that of his 2018-19 campaign (49.47 CF%, 50.88 GF%, 53.69 xG%).

Richardson provided offence at a one percent rate worse than league average and a defence at a six percent rate worse than league average.

Drafted in the 5th round of the 2003 draft, Richardson has shown his ability to be a bottom-six grinder throughout his career and that won’t be changing wherever he signs.

If teams are looking for a replacement-level left-shot fourth-line faceoff guy, then they need to look no further than Brad Richardson.

Contract projection: One year, $973,800.