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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen is battling a blood clot that will sideline him indefinitely.
The team provided an update on Andersen’s condition Monday afternoon after revealing earlier in the day that he was being “evaluated for a health issue.”
Carolina general manager Don Waddell said in a statement that the blood clot was discovered during a recent medical exam and will need to be treated, but that the club is “confident that Freddie will be able to recover.” fully recover.” There is no timetable for Andersen’s return to the lineup.
Andersen, 34, missed time in October after removing his mask against the San Jose Sharks. He’s in the first season of a two-year, $6.8 million contract he signed as a free agent last summer to stay in Carolina. Andersen is 4-1-0 on the year, with a 2.87 GAA and .897 SV%.
The Hurricanes also announced Monday that they have hired a veteran goaltender. Jaroslav Halak to a professional test. Halak played 25 games last season for the New York Rangers with a GAA of 2.72 and an SV% of 0.902 as a backup Igor Shesterkin.
Halak will potentially work in tandem with the veteran Antti Raanta. Carolina also has the option to recall top goaltending prospect Pytor Kochetkov from the minors.
Raanta, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason to stay with the Hurricanes for a third season, has struggled. The 34-year-old is 3-1-0 with 3.03 GAA and .870 SV%.
Kotchetkov played in three games in the NHL this year and was 0-3-0 with a 4.33 GAA and .836 SV%, but those numbers improved during his tenure with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (3-0-0, 1.63 GAA, .932 SV%).
Carolina faces the Buffalo swords Tuesday.
