I wasn’t sure I wanted to write about Craig Anderson tonight.

Then I watched this:

It’s been a weird day after I got a text message from Scotty Hockey asking me about the trade. My head wasn’t completely on work, just wondering what had happened. Why it had come to this.

What had happened to the goalie at the beginning of the 2009-10 season that was ecstatic to be here, to play in front of this crowd, to be the go to guy? Who was the Craig Anderson that seemed like he didn’t care one bit about the game in relief of Peter Budaj in the Avalanche’s 9-1 shellacking?

This is what I said on Monday, February 14th:

– Craig Anderson, on the other hand, did not try. He was awful in his first replacement stint. And while he will get a pass from the faithful for being away from the team for a few days to tend to a personal matter, there was something more sinister going on than being out of sync. It was a lack of caring. It’s been a long time since I have seen any goalie resigned to getting scored on. It was hard to watch, and it’s hard to understand.

The Anderson who took a bow, not because he wanted to, but because the crowd would not stop cheering until he did, wasn’t there Monday. He hasn’t been there for much of the season, certainly not since his knee injury. The smile, the guy who had his shot and made the most of it. He seems to have left a while ago.

I’m still chewing this one over. I’ll have more to say on Sunday, when Jay and I record The Avs Hockey Podcast. I know I will have plenty to say, and so will Jay.

I know you aren’t supposed to get too attached to players in today’s NHL. They follow the money, and the money can chase them away. It’s Team NHL, with players moving all over. But I liked Andy. He was easy to like in an Avalanche jersey.

I’ve been saving this picture from training camp. I love this picture.

I’d like to think that there is a picture of an Ice Girl in his glove.

Thanks, Andy.