CALGARY – Rasmus Andersson has never been afraid to take one for the team.
A straightforward, no-nonsense, honest Swede who finished fourth amongst NHL shot blockers last season, the 28-year-old Calgary Flames defenceman also spent most of the summer absorbing blows from critics debating his worth as a pending free agent.
On Tuesday he finally got a chance to push back, wanting to set the record straight following a summer of rumours and speculation.
Despite the fact Andersson and the Flames are mountains apart on abandoned contract extension talks, he has never asked for a trade, never suggested he wants out of Calgary, nor has he backed the Flames into a corner.
“The thing that bothers you is fake information that comes out,” said Andersson, who has one year left on a team-friendly deal paying him $4.55 million annually.
“I saw some reports that I would only sign with one team, and this and that. I mean, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Me and Connie (GM Craig Conroy) have had a few conversations over the summer, and I would never handcuff him and give him one team.”
That team was rumoured to be Vegas.
Even if it was true, Andersson has earned the right to choose which teams he’d entertain signing a long-term deal with.
No pending UFA should be criticized for not wanting to sign in certain markets, including Los Angeles, where a deal was reportedly nixed.
But no, he isn’t holding the team ransom.
The offers, even as a rental, simply haven’t been anywhere near what the Flames believe the former 50-point man is worth.
And so he’ll play on, until told otherwise.
Although everyone in town has an opinion on the fate of the fiery blue-liner, neither side has done anything wrong.
“I'm not going to stand there and (bulls---) you guys and say a bunch of stuff that isn't true or anything,” said Andersson, hinting at how so many players in his position generally roll out disingenuous hopes of staying despite knowing the die is cast.
“I'm not the first player in history to go in with one year left. I probably won't be the last, either. It is what it is. I'm happy to be here, I'm ready to play, and I'm quite excited for the season.”
Motivation won’t be hard to come by as Andersson is not only trying to up his trade and market value, but also vying for a spot on Sweden’s vaunted blue line for the Olympics.
“I've read all season how much I suck,” said Andersson, whose minus-38 has been cited plenty by detractors who also point out he had just 31 points last year.
“Is it smart of me to re-sign now, after last season? I don't know.”
He’s right – he’d be doing himself a disservice by accepting long-term offers based on his worst statistical seasons in four years.
Besides, the cap is going up again next summer.
Conroy and Andersson have left the door open for a possible extension, with the GM citing Brock Boeser as an example of such an unlikely prolongation.
But that’s not happening given MacKenzie Weegar is a fellow righty, as are emerging hotshots Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz.
So while it will be a distraction Andersson insists will only be from the outside, it would be foolish to suggest the captain of Sweden’s entry at the last world championship won’t be all-in as long as he’s here.
“I've grown up in the city, and I've loved every second of it, and that will never change,” said Andersson, a workhorse who logs almost 24 minutes a night.
“And now it's the business side of it. I’ve just got to come out of the gates hot, and just worry about myself and get the team in the best position possible.”
If he’s able to do that, things will work out swimmingly, as an emotional veteran entering his prime will be a hot commodity leading up to the trade deadline.
His six-team no-trade list won’t be an impediment, nor will he.
“Connie and I have known each other for almost 11 years since I got drafted here, and we’ve got a very good relationship,” said Andersson,
“We've said we'd always keep it honest with each other, and that's what we've done so far.”
Asked if he understood why a youngster like Dustin Wolf would sign long-term in Calgary, Andersson could simply have pointed to the six-year extension he inked in town at a similar age.
“For sure,” said the eight-year vet, whose post-goal stare at opposing fans will be missed by locals.
“I grew up in this city, and it's a great city. It's a great organization to play for. It's a first-class organization, and in my opinion I think it always will be.”
