I think the modern trend, backed by statistics, is that NHL goalies should not play 60+ games. Many of them "can" do that - most if all should not. Andersen did because Toronto has never had a reasonable backup until they acquired Campbell. Do you think Andersen has been well served by that heavy workload when he got to the playoffs?
And in terms of next year - 2020-21 - the current thinking is that there will be a compressed schedule with a ton of back to backs and other games clustered together. Goalies will not be able to play 60 games and backups will be pretty important. I'm pretty sure that's why MTL traded for Allen even though Price typically plays a lot of games.
Given the high variance in goalie play from year to year, I think a decent argument can be made that you're better of not putting all of your eggs in a 60 game goalie basket. At least not unless you have a truly elite goalie (Price), which Andersen is not. Look at the better playoff teams - many have goalie duos: Dallas, Vegas, NYI, CBJ,
You are probably correct. We have seen a substantial trend towards tandems. This year, there were only 6 goalies who started 50 games (prorating to roughly 58 depending on how many games their team had played at the stoppage) -- of which Andersen was one.
You then look at the trend of goalies who started 60 or more games:
2018-19: 8
2017-18: 9
2016-17: 11
2015-16: 10
2014-15: 12
Look back further, and you see anywhere between 10 and 14 goalies who hit this threshold.
However, when going into a season that is likely to be compressed, having a guy that can play and is used to playing 60+ games, may be extremely useful, as it won't leave the team absolutely sewered if the other guy gets hurt, and playing 50 games next year could mean playing at basically the same frequency as a 60-game goalie in normal years.
Any team acquiring any goalie this offseason is likely doing so this year with the mindset of their #1 guy playing no more than 50-50 games. I wouldn't be suprised if the only guys who start more than 60 games next year are Hellebuyck, Binnington, Vasilevksy, and Gibson. That doesn't mean Andersen's ability to play 60+ gets ignored or devalued, it's going to get used by virtue of the fact that playing 50 games will be like playing 60 in normal year. It's also going to give Andersen the ability to take a maintenance day every so often, and maybe erase some of those poor performances from this year when it was clear that he needed a rest, but the team had absolutely no confidence in their backup.
If you're a good team, looking to upgrade their #1 goaltending, likely for a front-half of your tandem for next year, I'd go as far as saying that the only UFAs (or guys rumoured to be available via trade) potentially more desirable for next year than Andersen are Lehner & Markstrom. Markstrom has no reason to leave Vancouver. Lehner has only once played more than 55 games, it was 3 seasons ago, and I think a lot of GMs are fearful of giving him a long term deal with his history. Both are also going to require very long, and very expensive deals, whereas from a cash perspective, it doesn't get any cheaper than Frederik Andersen.
Then you look at the good teams who need a proven goalie and/or upgrade in net.... Carolina, Colorado, Washington, Edmonton, Calgary. They can't all sign Robin Lehner.
As for Holtby, Andersen has been better in the major statistical categories over the last 3 years, whether it be games played, GAA or save percentage.
