NHL Previews
Notable new faces on Canadian teams
 (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press) |
Andrew Raycroft – Goaltender, Toronto Maple Leafs
After three seasons of relying on the back of seasoned veteran Ed Belfour, the Leafs decided to go the younger – and cheaper – route by picking up Andrew Raycroft in a draft day deal with Boston.
Raycroft is just two seasons removed from capturing the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie and Toronto is banking that the 26-year-old returns to that form.
Last season, Raycroft laboured through an injury-filled campaign posting mediocre-at-best numbers, including a 8-19-2 record, .879 save percentage and 3.70 goals-against average – far from his award-winning numbers of 29-18-9, .926 save percentage and 2.05 GAA.
On the plus side, Raycroft is athletic and plays with the poise of a veteran. It's rare that he gets rattled, which should serve him well with team that's had to lean on top-notch goaltending for the past decade.