For the rest of this season, next season and hopefully beyond.
But it’s not that simple.
He admitted as much Friday in a quiet one-on-one with Sportsnet.
“I love playing here and I’ve always loved playing here and that’s never going to change,” said the Flames defenceman.
“I hate the Oilers, I hate the Canucks and that’s just the way I am.
“Of course I would love to stay here, but I’ve heard from everyone else who has been in my situation that it’s a business.
"So we’ll see what happens.”
Quote:
“I’ve got no say in it – I have a six-team no trade list, so it’s out of my hands,” he said.
“July 1 is when I can re-sign, and we’re in January.
"It’s all in Connie (Craig Conroy) and Don’s (Don Maloney’s) hands what happens to me until my contract is up, unless we find a deal.
“It’s not like I’m sitting on a full no-move.”
As emotional a player as the Flames have in their locker room, the central question surrounding his future has always revolved around his happiness.
Last year, after Noah Hanifin and Swedish pals like Elias Lindholm and Jacob Markstrom were shipped out, it seemed a longshot Andersson would want to stick around to be part of a team that did an awful lot of losing down the stretch.
However, he was empowered by the organization in the summer, when told they’d need him to play bigger minutes, run the power-play, and be their defensive leader more than ever.
He embraced the challenge and has thrived, playing the best hockey of his career, and earning a spot on Sweden’s vaunted blue line for the 4 Nation’s Faceoff.
His play has had a big say in his team’s ability to stay in a playoff race few thought possible.
“For sure I’m happy,” said Andersson, a character who has followed up the bulk of his six goals with his now trademarked death stare.
“All you can ask for is to fight for a playoff spot. We’ve proven a lot of people wrong. I love being part of this group.
“My indication from up top is they’re happy, I’m happy, we’re all good.”
Relieved it wasn't a loud one-on-one with Sportsnet
__________________ MMF is the tough as nails cop that "plays by his own rules". The force keeps suspending him when he crosses the line but he keeps coming back and then cracks a big case.
-JiriHrdina
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can you imagine if he did the negotiations himself? Conroy being all excited and chewing Andersson's ears off with old tales, while Raz just tries to stare him down? Fun.
I am ok either way. If someone comes along with an offer that blows Conroy away he should trade him. If nobody is willing to make that kind of offer you can re-sign him. As for the next Captain it should be Weegar imo..
They all said they wanted to stay at some point. Even Tkachuk said that.
It means nothing, he even said it’s a business
Well, yes, he said it's a business in the context that he is acknowledging that he has little say in whether he is traded before his current contract ends. To me, this was a bit more than a vanilla statement of a player in this position who is saying what's expected. The Canuck and Oiler hate, combined with the Death Stare and how the Flames have run with it, tell me that all other things being equal, he would choose to stay if given the opportunity.
Last edited by Macindoc; 01-10-2025 at 03:02 PM.
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Do the Flames have to remain competitive for Rasmus to stay? Does he require a picture of the Flames plan to get to contender status during his extension?
There's still a ton of empty space to fill with those types of questions.
I'm all for either when it comes to Andersson but I also don't want the expectations to change to keep him in the fold either. The team is in a 4 or 5 year cycle before they're swinging upwards again. Even if they try to accelerate it they'll have to use all that glorious cap space to make it happen. There's a metric butt tonne of stuff to map out.
I'm sure they have a plan. I'm sure the Flames want to keep Andersson, I'm sure Andersson wants to stay, but like he said, it's business and it's not easy to get things done.
__________________ "Everybody's so desperate to look smart that nobody is having fun anymore" -Jackie Redmond
They all said they wanted to stay at some point. Even Tkachuk said that.
It means nothing, he even said it’s a business
And Tkachuk would be a long term contract if be didn't do that's two year bridge bull#### uber'ing him to free agency. Nickle and diming Gaudreau didn't help either
__________________ MMF is the tough as nails cop that "plays by his own rules". The force keeps suspending him when he crosses the line but he keeps coming back and then cracks a big case.
-JiriHrdina
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Another thing too is, they have some really big upside RD players coming onto the scene in the next 2-4 seasons, do they really want to block their progression with Weegar and Andersson on the right side?
Like I said, there's probably a plan, depends on how the kids work their way in as well.
__________________ "Everybody's so desperate to look smart that nobody is having fun anymore" -Jackie Redmond
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I actually like the way Andersson is handling this. He's hinting that he'd move, but also not tanking his own trade value. That's better for everyone involved. The Flames will end up with better offers, and Andersson will have more potential suiters and more destinations to pick from.
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Rasmus Andersson wants to remain a Calgary Flame
