When he opted to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes in the summer of 2021, Frederick Andersen was effectively bringing his NHL career full circle. 

The Hurricanes felt they saw a late-blooming goalie prospect when they selected Andersen 187th overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft. More than a decade later, he’d get the chance to return that belief in his work to the Hurricanes franchise.

Andersen was 21 when he was finally drafted. He’d been passed over in three prior drafts. However, the Hurricanes were set in goal with Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cam Ward firmly entrenched in the crease. 

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Danish netminder opted to stay in his homeland to play in 2010-11, rather than sign with Carolina. He played for top Swedish club Frolunda the following season. Then in the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Anaheim Ducks would call Andersen’s name with the 87th selection.

Within a year, he’d made his NHL debut for the Ducks in relief of Jonas Hiller on Oct. 20, 2013. Andersen hit the ground running as an NHL goalie and didn’t relent. He backstopped the Ducks to the 2015 Western Conference final, posting 35 wins that season. When he won his 50th NHL game in just his 68th appearance, Andersen tied Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame legend Bill Durnan for the mark as the fastest NHL goaltenders to 50 victories. Durnan went 50-9-9 through his first 68 games. Anderson was 50-13-5.

In 2015-16, Andersen and John Gibson shared the Jennings Trophy as the led the Ducks to the best NHL team GAA. Traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, Andersen would post his 200th win win the Leafs on Dec. 14, 2019 in a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Arriving in his 344th NHL appearance, Andersen tied Chris Osgood as the fourth-fastest NHL goalies to get to the 200-win plateau.

In 2020, Andersen was selected to the NHL All-Star Game. Following the 2020-21 season, his fifth with the Leafs, Andersen became a UFA. He’d opt to go back to where it all could’ve started for him. The Danish puckstopper signed with the Hurricanes.

During the 2021-22 season, he’d again be picked to play in the NHL All-Star Game. That season, Andersen and Antti Raanta combined to bring the Jennings Trophy to the Hurricanes for the first time in franchise history. He’s one of just eight NHL goalies to have won this award while playing for two different teams.