Andersen agrees to two-year, $9 million contract with Hurricanes

Frederik Andersen agreed to a two-year, $9 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $4.5 million.

The 31-year-old goalie was 13-8-3 with a 2.96 goals-against average and .895 save percentage in 24 games (23 starts) with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, limited to one game after March 19 because of a lower-body injury.
"From what I hear, they have a really good team, a really good culture," Andersen said Thursday regarding the Hurricanes. "For that part, I'm really excited they were interested in me. Obviously, I want to prepare and get back to the level I know I can play at. Last year was a difficult year personally, dealing with some injuries. I wasn't able to play the way I wanted to. I definitely feel very motivated to get back to that level again."
Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (No. 87) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Andersen is 226-100-48 with a 2.65 GAA, .915 save percentage and 19 shutouts in 393 regular-season games (381 starts) with the Maple Leafs and Ducks. He is fourth in Toronto history with 149 wins, behind Turk Broda (304), Johnny Bower (219) and Felix Potvin (160).
Andersen said a conversation he had with Carolina defenseman Jake Gardiner, a former Maple Leafs teammate, helped his decision-making process.
"The deciding factor is just the culture that's being built there," Andersen said. "That's what Jake's emphasis was really on, is the culture from the coaching staff on down. They've had good years previously and are trying to build toward something that can compete for a Cup. I think that's really important.
"Jake had really good things to say about living in North Carolina. He was pretty sure I would feel really comfortable there."
In 53 Stanley Cup Playoff games, Andersen is 27-23 with a 2.55 GAA, .916 save percentage and three shutouts.
"Frederik has been a starting goalie in this league and has an established track record," Carolina general manager Don Waddell said. "We believe that his experience will help us achieve further success."
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The Hurricanes also signed goalie
Antti Raanta
to a two-year, $4 million contract ($2 million AAV) on Wednesday, and lost goalies Petr Mrazek, James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier each as a free agent, after trading Alex Nedeljkovic to the Detroit Red Wings last Thursday.
Raanta, 32, was 5-5-2 with a 3.36 GAA and .905 save percentage in 12 games (11 starts) for the Arizona Coyotes, missing most of the season because of injury. He is 93-65-20 with a 2.46 GAA, .919 save percentage and 13 shutouts in 198 NHL games (179 starts).
"Antti Raanta, his track record, if you look at his numbers, he's got unbelievable [numbers]," Waddell said. "He's run into some injuries the last few years. We went through the whole process, as we do with every player that we sign. We really feel that with the right training, which he's doing now, and working with our team here, that if he can stay healthy, if you go back and look at them for five or six years, his numbers are outstanding. So we felt very comfortable with making that decision.
"We think that combo of [Raanta and Andersen] gives us the best opportunity to win hockey games and take us to where we want to get to."
Raanta said he's looking forward to joining the Hurricanes.
"It's a young, talented team," he said Thursday. "Lots of skill, great coaching. When I heard Carolina was interested, it was a pretty easy decision to get the deal done. Obviously, I'm grateful to get that opportunity to come to Carolina and prove that I can be a top goalie in this league.
"Every goalie who can play a lot of games, you can always improve when you get that next chance quickly. If you have a bad game, you just jump right in and keep playing. In Arizona, I got the chance to play lots of games. There were, a little bit, too many small injuries and obviously a little bigger one. If I can play at a good level, hopefully I can get a lot of games and help the team to win."
Andersen said he wants to have a good rapport with Raanta.
"I don't know him personally yet, but I'm looking forward to," Andersen said. "The relationship you've got to have, I think [is] just a good, healthy competitiveness. But also obviously you're able to help each other to get the best out of both goalies. ... I think having a good friendship off the ice is really good. Having that competitive edge and trying to help your team when it's your chance in the net is important. I'm looking forward to building that as well as the relationship with the rest of my teammates."
Mrazek signed a three-year, $11.4 million contract ($3.8 million AAV) with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old was limited because of injuries last season and was 6-2-3 with a 2.06 GAA, .923 save percentage and three shutouts in 12 games. He was 1-1 with a 3.90 GAA and .873 save percentage in two playoff games.
Reimer signed a two-year contract with the San Jose Sharks. The 33-year-old was 15-5-2 with a 2.66 GAA and .906 save percentage in 22 games (21 starts) last season.
Bernier signed a two-year, $8.25 million contract ($4.125 million AAV) with the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old was traded to the Hurricanes by the Detroit Red Wings for goalie on July 22.
Nedeljkovic, 25, was 15-5-3 with a 1.90 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 23 games, and was voted a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. He allowed two goals or fewer in 16 of his 23 starts and helped the Hurricanes finish first in the eight-team Discover Central Division. He was 4-5 with a 2.17 GAA, .920 save percentage and one shutout in nine playoff games.
Also on Wednesday, the Hurricanes signed defensemen Tony DeAngelo and Ian Cole.
DeAngelo received a one-year, $1 million contract. The 25-year-old had the final season of his contract bought out by the New York Rangers on July 25. He had one assist and was minus-6 in six games last season, and scored 92 points (19 goals, 73 assists) in 167 games for the Rangers, who acquired him in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on June 23, 2017.
Cole agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract. The 32-year-old has scored 46 points (27 goals, 119 assists) in 595 NHL games for the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild.
NHL.com independent correspondent Kurt Dusterberg contributed to this report