[sureLoss]

Scott Cruickshank compares Andersson's situation to Ryan Howse. While Andersson won't comment on his current weight, Cruickshank notes that Andersson looks slimmer compared to July's development camp.


http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ning-criticism

Well, it is September.

Andersson, during informal sessions at WinSport, does look slimmer.

But because there is not a teenager in the world who would find this to be appealing territory, the Swede is rather tight-lipped.

He respects Treliving’s opinion, but he doesn’t feel fitness is an issue.

“I’ve been doing everything in my power to get better on it,” Andersson is saying Friday morning. “So, hopefully, I’ll be better now when the testing comes up (at next week’s medicals). Ever since development camp, I’ve been focusing more on conditioning than strength.”

He explains that this past winter – as he paced all defenders in the Ontario Hockey League with 60 points – there had been significant slippage.

“I didn’t have too good of an off-ice year in Barrie,” Andersson says. “I was more focused on the games, not really as much on the off-ice (work).”

It was roughly at this juncture that the tale of Howse – a 2009 third-rounder who scored 98 times in his final two seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins – soured badly.

Also of note Andersson thought he may have been close to making the team last training camp.

Andersson, meanwhile, steers his own fate.

Already he’s made a legitimate bid for NHL work, impressing in three pre-season outings only months after being drafted 53rd overall.

“I guess I wasn’t too far away,” says Andersson, who turns 20 in October. “But it’s tough for me to say how close I was.”

He can make a resounding statement when he submits to the upcoming round of fitness tests. He will not threaten any club records, but he’d better scrub those summer numbers.

“I’m not comparing to anyone else, I’m comparing to myself,” says Andersson. “I will be better this time than last time.”

As for his actual weight – at development camp or even these days – he is staying mum.

For now.

“Well, I don’t know,” Andersson says. “If you ask me Thursday, I’ll give you an answer.”