The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost starting goaltender Frederik Andersen to an injury for three-to-four weeks. The injury was sustained in Andersen’s pre-Olympic qualifying game with Denmark last week.
Leafs announce Frederik Andersen will miss 3-4 weeks with the upper body injury he sustained last week with Team Denmark.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) September 5, 2016
The Leafs made a splash this offseason, acquiring Frederik Andersen’s rights from the Anaheim Ducks to solidify their crease. While the injury shouldn’t keep Andersen away from NHL action for too long, it still has to sting for the Leafs management, and fan base, who are dealing with the repercussions of players skating with their countries in international play.
Players want to play for their countries. There’s no secret on that front. Similarly, owners, general managers, and even coaches, often do not want their players playing in the Olympics, or otherwise. The risk of injury is significant given the fact that each player is giving it their all with every shift, and in every game, at that level. Worse, is the fact that teams have no control over the players when they’re overseas. They have no doctors ready and able to take preventative measures to avoid injuries, or to make their own diagnosis of an injury should one occur
There will be controversy about players playing internationally for a long time still, but the Leafs looked like they dodged a bullet. Per head coach Mike Babcock, Andersen should be ready to go for the regular season.