Anderson, 41, returned to the Sabres this season as the oldest player in the NHL. He has remained a reliable presence in goal, posting a .905 save percentage in 25 games, as well as an invaluable leader for the league's youngest team.
Sabres coach Don Granato painted a picture of Anderson's mentorship late last month. Granato walked into the KeyBank Center weight room and saw Anderson chatting with rookie goaltender Devon Levi, who had signed with the team out of college one week prior.
"I walk back in the weight room 20 minutes later and they're still sitting there talking," Granato said.
Levi was seen sitting next to Anderson again in the dressing room following a shootout win in Detroit last Thursday.
"I think those things matter to Craig, that he's part of our young guys," Granato said. "… Craig has done a really good job of imparting some of his wisdom on them and helping them see the simple in what otherwise might feel complex to situations."
Anderson opened the season with wins in his first three starts, including a 35-save effort against the Ottawa Senators on opening night. He made 40 saves against the Los Angeles Kings on December 13 to earn his first shutout since 2019 and became the 31st goaltender in NHL history to play 700 career games when he suited up in Dallas on January 23, an overtime victory.
"The goalies are the last line of defense and when you can make a big save and elevate the team's morale, gosh, it's just a great feeling," Anderson said that night. "It's like that adrenaline that kind of kicks in and makes you want to keep coming back."
Anderson became the oldest goaltender in NHL history to make 49 saves in a game when he stopped all but one shot in Florida on February 24, a win that briefly propelled the Sabres into a playoff spot.
"Age is just a number," he said that night.
