Flames' Andersson caps emotional week with 4 Nations nod

CALGARY — Rasmus Andersson scored the most emotional goal of his life Tuesday, potting the game-winner in a game honouring his close pal, Johnny Gaudreau.

Four days earlier he called the first of back-to-backs against Columbus the toughest game, mentally, of his career.

Now he’s going to play for his country.

Punctuating an emotional week in which he demonstrated maturity and leadership beyond his years, the 28-year-old was named to Sweden’s vaunted defensive corps for the 4 Nations Face-off in February.

The news, like everything else he’s faced this week, hit hard.

“It feels surreal that you're going to play in a tournament like this,” said the Flames defenceman, following the team’s unveiling.

“But at the same time, I thought I've been off to a pretty good start this year and it was always in the back of my head to try to make this team. I'm super proud of myself I did. I know it's only the four nations that's in it, but it's a surreal feeling because it is best-on-best and it's the first time in a long time. I'm just super proud I made it, especially with that d-core with Sweden. I feel we probably have one of the strongest d-cores. That just makes me even more proud to make that kind of team.”

Andersson hasn’t played for his national team since the Ivan Hlinka under-18 tourney in 2014, turning down several invites to the world championship of late due to injury and a pair of pending child berths.

A right-shot defender from a country somewhat short of righties, he will enter the tourney as the sixth or seventh man alongside Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, Gustav Forsling, Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Ekholm and Jonas Brodin.

Amongst league leaders in minutes played, shot blocks and snarl, the man with the endless swagger managed to beat out the likes of Adam Larsson, Hampus Lindholm, Marcus Pettersson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Invited to a summer session in Stockholm where he and 40 other hopefuls played tennis, bonded and gathered information on the upcoming worlds in Sweden, the 4 Nations tourney and the Olympics, he entered the season motivated to break through.

Despite the weight of Gaudreau’s passing, and the subsequent funeral, he opened the season embracing the newfound responsibilities thrust upon him due to the departure of Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov.

“When people were moved out of here, now he sees the value that he brings to our team and how he feels he can contribute and help us win every night,” said Ryan Huska of how his top defender has shouldered increased responsibility, including playing against the opposition’s top line.

“He’s a difference maker for us and he’s someone we lean on.”

Asked what an experience like this can do for Andersson, Huska smiled.

"You're now playing against the best of the best… and when you find yourself in that category it allows you to puff the chest up a little bit,” said Huska, who counts on Andersson to play big minutes on both special teams units.

“It is some recognition of what he's done over the years and how he's made himself a better player. When you get someone who gets to go to an event like that, he comes back with a little bit more swagger, a little bit more confidence and maybe more of a belief knowing that 'yep, I am one of the elite players in the league,' and when you get that, there's a tendency to bring other people along."

Andersson won’t be joined by Flames teammate Mikael Backlund in Montreal and Boston, as the Flames captain wasn’t selected to be part of the deep list of centres from Sweden.  

Never short on confidence, Andersson admits his long-awaited chance to wear the Tre Kronor puts an even bigger bounce in his step already.

"It means a lot,” said the product of Malmo, who has six goals and nine assists to sit one back of the team scoring lead.    

“It means you've done something good. It's the first time in a long time I get to play on the National team. It's something I'm super excited about. I couldn't be more happy and proud I made the team. I'm really looking forward to this tournament."

Asked for his fondest childhood memory of the Swedish national team, the answer was simple.

"It's the Olympics in '06 when they scored the game-winning goal,” said the Flames alternate captain, who half-joked last month that he’d be “pissed off” if he didn’t make the team.

“It was (Peter) Forsberg dropping it to (Mats) Sundin, who dropped it to (Nicklas) Lidstrom, who scored and it ended up being the game-winner against Finland in the Olympic final. 

“I've probably seen that goal over 100 times. That's the first one that pops into my head."