Senators, Anderson agree to 3-year, $12.6M extension: '[It] allows me to focus completely on my job'

The Ottawa Senators signed goaltender Craig Anderson to a three-year, $12.6-million extension Monday morning, solidifying their goaltending duo of Anderson and Robin Lehner for the upcoming season.

Security is what Anderson was looking for when he signed his extension. "...Taking the contract part of the life out of the equation allows me to focus completely on my job of stopping the puck," he said. "There's no distractions whatsoever from that part of the game. That's really exciting for me."

After missing the playoffs, and seeing Jason Spezza's trade request fulfilled this summer, Anderson hopes that Ottawa, which will look quite a bit younger this year, can raise the bar this season. 

"I felt that I could have been better and as a group we all could have been better," Anderson said. "When everyone does a little bit better job the whole team gets a lot better. That's kind of what our focus is going to be here going forward."

Team bonding won't be a problem. Anderson said the group is more tight-knit than any other he's been a part of. "I think this is the closest group of guys that I've played with in my career and that goes a long way."

Anderson is confident that he and Lehner, 23, can combine to form a successful crease combo for the Senators. "Robin and I have gotten along really, really well the last few years. I'm looking forward to working with him and continuing to help him improve," Anderson said. 

"By him being a better goalie it's going to help me become a better goalie and we're going to become a better team because of it." 

And Anderson is thrilled to be returning to Ottawa. 

"Obviously everyone has their own agenda on what their career path should be. I felt the Senators gave me an opportunity three years ago when they traded for me with that contract."

He continued, "I felt like I wanted to stay and be a part of the organization as long as I can."