On March 10th, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson joined a rare club, becoming just the 39th goalie and sixth American in NHL history to secure 300 career wins.
While a few former Buffalo Sabres reached 300 career wins, Craig Anderson became the first to reach the milestone in a blue and gold uniform. Both Ryan Miller and Domenik Hasek also encroached 300 wins, where they sit 14th and 15th all-time. But Miller reached the mark as a member of the Vancouver Canucks and Hasek, the Ottawa Senators.
In what has been a trying season for both the Sabres and Anderson, the 40-year-old goaltender has something to celebrate. And it couldn’t have come on a better night since the win also marked former Buffalo Sabre Jack Eichel’s return to the KeyBank Center since the franchise shipped him to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Craig Anderson becomes first goalie to win 300th career game in a Buffalo Sabres uniform
It’s no secret that twilight has fallen on Anderson’s career. And there is no guarantee he will remain a Buffalo Sabre following the trade deadline. But Anderson’s name will be forever immortalized as the 39th goaltender to win 300 career games.
The Calgary Flames drafted Anderson with the 77th selection in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. However, he never played for the Flames and the Chicago Blackhawks drafted him at 73rd overall two seasons later.
He made his NHL debut during the 2002-03 season and scored his first career win a year later. Anderson recorded his first career winning season in 2007-08 as a member of the Florida Panthers and he would suffer just one more losing season between then and the 2017-18 season.
Anderson also spent time with the Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, and Washington Capitals before signing a one-year deal with the Sabres. He was also the 2016-17 recipient of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The 300th win ties Anderson with Tomas Vokoun for 38th all-time in wins. He’s realistically within striking distance to Karl Lehtonen, who ranks 32nd all-time with 310 wins.