My theory on Craig Anderson

by JackAvsFan on Jan 29, 2011 1:14 PM MST

I was thinking earlier about what Andy has changed since last season. One thing that I realized nobody has been talking about is his gear.

Last year during the regular season, Andy was using TPS Response Summit 7 equipment. He did pretty well.

For the playoffs, Andy got some spec pads, still from TPS, and he seemed to play awesome with them. He also used these pads for the preseason this year. Here's a pic if your memory needs to be jogged:

And then on opening night, he started using these pads:

Notice the difference? These are still spec pads. He keeps the no knee roll feature which he has always had. But take another look. For the first time in his pro career (3 years in the Hawks system, 2 seasons with the Hawks, 3 with the Panthers, and 1 with the Avs), he isn't using TPS equipment.

These particular spec pads are unlisted, so we don't know anything about them. But if these are stiffer than his previous pads, it could help explain the less-than-optimal rebound control and his apparent slowness when going into a butterfly. It can also just be a comfort or feel thing. If the pads are just a little bit uncomfortable, it can be really distracting during games.

I don't know why he would change to Sher-Wood all of a sudden, but if nothing else is working for him, why doesn't he just try going back to his TPS gear? At this point, it can't really hurt.

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Good catch. I never liked SherWood equipment when I was playing. I was always an Easton fan.

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by wtnelson on Jan 29, 2011 4:48 PM MST reply actions

I suggest he go back to the TPS R12’s he wore in the playoffs, solely becaus ethey look much better than the Sherwoods.

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by Savage33 on Jan 29, 2011 9:37 PM MST reply actions

They actually aren’t R12’s, they’re specs with the R12 graphic on the front.

The main difference that you can see is that Andy never wears pads with knee rolls, and the R12s have them.

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by JackAvsFan on Jan 30, 2011 1:00 AM MST up reply actions

Can’t say I’ve paid that much attention, I generally look at the pads and if they look cool I like them. I’m guessing most NHL goalie pads are “spec” versions of the stuff regualr people can buy. I know my RX9’s have the 2 knee breaks while Steve Valiquettes NYR RX9’s that another goalie at my club bought pro return off ebay only have the 1. Also the Reebok Revokes on goalie monkey have a few different versions including a Turco break and a Giguere break.

The Savage has spoken. Let it be done

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Jan 31, 2011 6:31 AM MST up reply actions

I always used Koho and Brian’s, they’re both way softer which made it easier to feel where the rebound was going.

by Greendaygoal on Jan 29, 2011 10:10 PM MST reply actions

Interesting. There is a possibility his gear could be effecting his play.

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by InYoFace on Jan 29, 2011 11:52 PM MST reply actions

Nice catch

But I highly doubt it. If he felt uncomfortable in any way, I have no doubt he’d switch back. It’s not like he’s one of us peons and can’t afford new stuff, after all.

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by TheRed on Jan 30, 2011 1:14 AM MST reply actions

I’m not saying they’re uncomfortable in the “Ouch, something’s jabbing my leg” sort of way, but maybe they’re just too stiff or he’s not used to moving in them the same way he is with his old gear. He might not even realize it himself.

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by JackAvsFan on Jan 30, 2011 9:08 AM MST reply actions

Interesting point. The stick change for number 26 made a difference in his shot/pass balance I think, so this could be an issure.

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by Rapierwhitt on Jan 30, 2011 9:34 AM MST reply actions

hes a professional im sure if his pads were bothering him he’d change….just saying

by Braden Lunn on Jan 30, 2011 7:28 PM MST reply actions

Good eye, but yeah, he’d change if he thought he was sucking because of them.

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by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 30, 2011 7:51 PM MST reply actions

He needs his Reebok stick back.

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by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 30, 2011 7:52 PM MST up reply actions

ya i.m.o too sheerwood blows chunks for goalie equipment lol David Marcoux at his summer goalie camps would always rant about how good the company was for equipment…. little did everyone know they were one of the leading sponsors of the camp..never like him either yelled at me once cause i wore a different jersey for the on ice session…. :( lol

by Braden Lunn on Jan 30, 2011 10:27 PM MST up reply actions

Interesting idea.

Is Andy sponsored to wear the Sher-wood pads, as in, he can’t go back to TPS?

Otherwise, I can’t see why he wouldn’t go back to what worked for him last year.

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by Nemesis44UK on Jan 31, 2011 3:12 AM MST reply actions

Could the tweaks to the equipment rules have been the reason for the change?

Is it me or does the thighrise on the new pad look taller?

Are any goalies wearing Sherwood this year? Did Sherwood lose their licensing agreement with the NHL?

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by Mike @ MHH on Jan 31, 2011 8:07 AM MST reply actions

Brodeur uses Sherwood, oh wait, scratch that you said goalies and NHL.

The Savage has spoken. Let it be done

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Feb 1, 2011 12:53 AM MST up reply actions

This reminds me of MAFleury.....

I remember an article about a optomistrist in Ottawa writing a letter to MAF and the Penguins about the colour of his yellow goalie pads ahd how he went to white pads and had a rediculous statstical turn around and turned them around to go to the SCF….

Hey Andy: change your pads. Oh, one other thing: it’s a contract year!

by Markopolo on Feb 1, 2011 8:59 AM MST reply actions

Ya i remember that..although MAF’s was a colour issue being yellow and easy to distinguish for the shooter…can’t really say that about Andy’s since they all look some what similiar

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by Suitcase on Feb 1, 2011 11:51 AM MST up reply actions