Speaking for the first time since reports surfaced that he had quietly requested a trade from the Ottawa Senators, Craig Anderson affirmed that he was happy in Ottawa and in fact open to staying.
In June, it was reported that the Senators were looking to trade Anderson in advance of the draft; it was later revealed that the goalie had requested the trade through his agent.
However, speaking to the media for the first time since the original report after Sunday’s Stars and Stripes Showdown charity game, Anderson explained in detail that he was content in Ottawa... mostly.
“I love Ottawa, I love playing in Ottawa. My only comment on the [reported trade request] is that I’m too old for drama. I don’t want anything to do with drama, and hopefully we’ve resolved that.” —Craig Anderson
It sounds like there were behind-the-scenes issues straining Anderson’s relationship with the Senators — and certainly, the team experienced a somewhat turbulent season this year — but things appear salvageable as the 37-year-old goalie has little interest in uprooting his life in Ottawa.
Despite his age, Sens fans should be happy to hear this; though he posted a lackluster .898 save percentage last season, Anderson has made something of a habit of bouncing back from down years over his career, and should still have plenty left in the tank.
