Andrew Raycroft

Lore & Background

Raycroft grew up playing minor hockey with the Quinte Red Devils AAA system in the Eastern Ontario AAA League. He played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League for the Kingston Frontenacs and Sudbury Wolves, and also junior hockey for the Wellington Dukes. Drafted 135th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1998, he made his NHL debut in 2000–01 as a late-game replacement for Byron Dafoe in a 5–1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. His first full NHL season came in 2003–04, when he compiled a 29–18–9 record with a 2.05 goals against average, .926 save percentage and three shutouts, helping the Bruins to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference. He was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.

During the 2005–06 season, Raycroft struggled with the Bruins, managing only eight wins and being demoted to third-string behind Tim Thomas and Hannu Toivonen. On June 24, 2006, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the rights to Finnish goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask. It was later revealed the Bruins intended to release him, which would have made him available to Toronto without any compensation. In his first season with the Maple Leafs, Raycroft tied the franchise record for most wins by a goaltender in the regular season (37), previously held by Ed Belfour. However, he finished 49th in GAA and 56th in save percentage, and the Leafs failed to qualify for the playoffs. He struggled at the start of the 2007–08 season, lost the starting position to Vesa Toskala, and was placed on waivers on June 24, 2008, before having his contract bought out on June 27.

Reader's Guide

Raycroft's tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs is defined by a single remarkable statistical achievement: tying the franchise record for most wins by a goaltender in a regular season with 37 in 2006–07. This record, previously held by Ed Belfour, was set in a season that included three shootout wins, a format that did not exist prior to 2005–06. Despite this win total, Raycroft's underlying numbers were poor—he ranked 49th in goals against average and 56th in save percentage—and the team missed the playoffs. The trade that brought him to Toronto, sending Tuukka Rask to the Boston Bruins, became a defining and often-criticized transaction in Maple Leafs history, especially after it was revealed the Bruins intended to release Raycroft for no compensation. His time in Toronto lasted only two seasons, ending with a buyout. After leaving the Maple Leafs, Raycroft played for the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars, and later finished his career in Europe with Hockey Milano Rossoblu and IF Björklöven. He retired from professional hockey on April 9, 2014, and transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a rinkside and studio analyst for Boston Bruins broadcasts on NESN and a host of hockey podcasts.

Did You Know?

• Raycroft won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2003–04.
• He tied the Maple Leafs franchise record for most wins by a goaltender in a regular season (37) in 2006–07.
• Raycroft was traded to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuukka Rask, a deal later criticized after it was revealed Boston intended to release him.
• He won a Regional Emmy Award in 2025 for Outstanding Sports Interview/Discussion.