Thoughts on Rasmus Andersson's season and his future here

[Zary's-Mustache]

I think he has really struggled this season. To me he looks slower than he ever has in his career.

I saw someone mention he had fitness issues before coming into the nhl but looked to have fixed that before first season in the nhl. Is it possible that is creeping back? Or maybe getting hit by a car is still effecting him?

Whatever it is I think the Flames need to make a decision on where they see him in the future because if it's not commiting to him long term then I think you make a trade this summer. He doesn't seem to be aging well and his value will likely never be higher than it is now.

Thoughts?

[Bonded]

I don’t think he is aging poorly but whether he stays or goes really depends on what his next contract looks like. If it is an 8 year deal at a high AAV then I think the Flames should trade him and that’s probably what he is looking for and will get.

[Parallex]

My thoughts are that it's not the right time to contemplate his future... if we must though. My thoughts are that we wait a year and see how it goes... we're already short at least 1 legit T4 d-man so I'd be hesitant to drop another. Another year will give us a much better picture of what we have coming up the pipeline (I have high hopes for Poirier... but that's all they are at this point... hopes) and it also gives us another year to see where Rasmus is at (whether to trade or extend).

[Bill Bumface]

All sorts of players have an off year here and there. I'll get worried if he looks the same next year.

It was the perfect time in the Flames' trajectory to have a bit of a slump.

[Enoch Root]

I think it has been a very difficult season with a LOT of turmoil. No reason whatsoever to throw any players under the bus. Let's see what Andersson looks like next year, before we draw any conclusions.

Rash decisions are rarely good decisions. This is a situation where patience is the best strategy, IMO.

[Groot]

He's honestly looked off ever since being hit by that car. Also not a phrase I would expect to say very often about an NHL player.

[Erick Estrada]

The team traded away 3 of their top 6 blue liners already this season. Why on earth would fans immediately put the bullseye on one of the two remaining defenseman on the roster that have top 4 pedigree? You have to keep some NHL caliber players as this organization isn't going to go the Sharks/Hawks route of icing and AHL roster in the NHL.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The team traded away 3 of their top 6 blue liners already this season. Why on earth would fans immediately put the bullseye on one of the two remaining defenseman on the roster that have top 4 pedigree? You have to keep some NHL caliber players as this organization isn't going to go the Sharks/Hawks route of icing and AHL roster in the NHL.

Why not? Especially in the name of asset management. Seems like the perfect time to sell. I also don't think he's looked as bad as some think and still love the player.

[Igottago]

I think a lot of the veterans are coming to terms with the fact the team is in a down cycle. Remember Rasmus was around for the division winning teams. The Flames aren't that anymore. He's probably realizing this team could be out of the playoffs for a period of years. It must have an impact on your motivation and energy levels.

I think that's why its going to be hard for Conroy to thread the needle between rebuild and remain competetive at the same time. You almost need that crop of young guys coming up together with no expectations. The vets are going to get tired of it quickly.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

All sorts of players have an off year here and there. I'll get worried if he looks the same next year.

It was the perfect time in the Flames' trajectory to have a bit of a slump.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think it has been a very difficult season with a LOT of turmoil. No reason whatsoever to throw any players under the bus. Let's see what Andersson looks like next year, before we draw any conclusions.

Rash decisions are rarely good decisions. This is a situation where patience is the best strategy, IMO.

I basically came to say the same thing. As much as we're seeing guys perform and seeing other guys slump, I dont know how many real, solid decisions can be made off this season.

There was a lot of moving pieces this year and frankly, this team has looked like a half-dozen different teams at different points during the season.

We've got him for 2 more years before we've got to worry about it.

[GreenLantern2814]

Ras is a very good NHL D.

He’s homegrown.

Doesn’t have quite the offensive game we all hoped, but he’s not Warrener either.

If he wants to take the same deal as Weegar, they should keep him.

If he doesn’t want to stay, he’s extremely valuable as an asset.

Don’t think they should be in any hurry to get him off the roster, in any event.

[Badgers Nose]

Good player on a good contract. Guilty of doing too much sometimes, but when people try to do that it usually comes from a good place.

If he will extend on a reasonable deal great. If not, he would fetch a ton as a depth rental from a contender. Maybe more than Lindholm did.

[The Cobra]

I think extending him in 2 seasons would be a very bad idea, unless it’s an exceptionally team friendly deal, and why would it be?

So, I would trade him when the value is highest. That’s up to Conroy.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by Locke

I basically came to say the same thing. As much as we're seeing guys perform and seeing other guys slump, I dont know how many real, solid decisions can be made off this season.

There was a lot of moving pieces this year and frankly, this team has looked like a half-dozen different teams at different points during the season.

We've got him for 2 more years before we've got to worry about it.

I agree. And IIRC, he was in the running for captain last summer, before Backlund committed to staying. Not the kind of player we should be trading away at this stage of the rebuild.

[saillias]

He's an up and down player. But really the team has been lacking a true #1 since losing Giordano and he would ideally be a really good number two instead of miscast as a #1.

[dissentowner]

Andersson will be here long term, I am very confident on that.

[dammage79]

Andersson would be better off as a 2nd pairing guy and less relied upon on special teams. If he can accept that role hed be a brilliant career Flame.

[Freddy]

My own purely speculation is that Rasmus has been playing through some sort of injury or 2 and that he’ll be getting surgery once the season is over. He’ll be better next season again.

[Displaced Flames fan]

If Backlund had opted to move on Rasmus Andersson would be the Captain right now. I think the organization thinks very highly of him. He's a player that needs to be extended.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Andersson would be better off as a 2nd pairing guy and less relied upon on special teams. If he can accept that role hed be a brilliant career Flame.

Oh completely agreed, but the fact of the matter remains...we have nobody left to shelter him like that.

Unfortunately...'Deep End meet Rasmus."

Its just important that we keep that in mind while evaluating his play.

If he makes mistakes as a result of being exposed, then thems the breaks sometimes, just have to swallow that and move along as opposed to holding it against him.

Rasmus is not a $7-$10M defenceman and hes not being paid as such....but he's played as such.

So we just have to be cognizant of that in any evaluation.