Oilers finally have premier goalie in McDavid era with Andersen

The Edmonton Oilers have signed Frederik Andersen to a one-year deal, pairing the 36-year-old veteran goalie with Connor McDavid as the superstar enters what could be his final contract with the franchise.

Andersen brings championship pedigree. He started 16 of the Carolina Hurricanes’ 19 games during their Stanley Cup run last season. Over the past decade, he’s pulled down more than $5 million annually, earning respect across the league after his time with Anaheim, Toronto, and Carolina.

The contract rewards playoff success. Base salary sits at $1 million, but Andersen can pocket an additional $1.8 million in bonuses if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup—provided he plays in at least half the playoff games in each series. That carrot reflects Edmonton’s desperation after losing Game 7 to Florida in last year’s Cup Final.

GM Stan Bowman made tough roster moves to make this happen. The Oilers sent Darnell Nurse to San Jose, offloading his $9.25 million annual salary with four years left, and got Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp in return. That trade cleared $6.4 million in cap space—exactly what Edmonton needed for Andersen.

McDavid has gone through five goalies in his 11 seasons here: Cam Talbot, Mike Smith, Stuart Skinner, Tristan Jarry, and Connor Ingram. Andersen is different. He’s a playoff performer with a proven track record, now tasked with finally bringing the Cup to a franchise built on generational talent.