CALGARY — It was with a tennis racquet in hand that Rasmus Andersson’s motivation grew for the upcoming season.
“They invited a few of us up (to Stockholm) this summer, like 40 people, to give us information on the 4 Nations Face-Off, World Championship in Sweden and the Olympics,” explained the Flames’ minute muncher from Malmo.
“There was no skate, but we played tennis, had dinner and drinks and had some fun getting to know all the guys.”
In a setting like that, who wouldn’t start thinking about the possibility of being included on Sweden’s entry in the NHL’s best-on-best tourney in mid-February?
“Yeah, for sure it was motivating,” said Andersson, who was then asked if he remembers counting the number of defencemen on hand.
“Oh, my God, no. There are so many good defencemen.
"I think five are pretty set in stone, and then we'll see.”
Indeed, the 28-year-old will be in tough on a blueline led by Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson and Gustav Forsling — who’ve already been named to the team — followed by locks Rasmus Dahlin and Adam Larsson.
Although no one in the NHL has played more minutes in the last 10 games than Andersson, his ability to lead the team in scoring (four goals, seven assists) while averaging 24:37 in ice time isn’t what could land him on the team.
It’s the fact he leads the league in blocked shots and plays with a snarl that could make him an attractive addition to a squad of sublimely skilled defencemen.
But ultimately what gives him his best chance is the fact he’s a right-handed shot on a team with very few of them.
A look at the depth chart:
LEFT SIDE
Victor Hedman
Rasmus Dahlin
Gustav Forsling
Mattias Ekholm
Adam Larsson
Hampus Lindholm
Jonas Brodin
Marcus Pettersson
Oliver Ekholm-Larsson
RIGHT SIDE
Erik Karlsson
Adam Larsson
Rasmus Andersson
Although Andersson hasn’t played for his national team since the Ivan Hlinka under-18 tourney in 2014, the Flames alternate captain does possess a different set of tools than most of his fellow countrymen.
“I think I've proven this year I can play good defensive hockey and am reliable, I block shots and can try to loosen up the group a little bit, be vocal and contribute any way I can,” said Andersson, who is routinely tasked with shutting down the opposition’s top line.
“If they need me in a defensive role, no problem. If they need me in an offensive role, no problem.
“If they need me in the stands, no problem. Wherever they see a fit for me.”
Injuries, playoffs, a wedding and the birth of his two children have prevented him from playing in various world championships, as his father did.
But his game has grown to the point he’s on the short list to fill the sixth or seventh spot in February when Canada, the U.S., Finland and Sweden do battle in Montreal and Boston.
“It obviously would be a super-cool tournament to get my first kind of national team experience,” said Andersson, whose teammate Mikael Backlund has a good chance at wearing the Tre Kronor up front.
“To play against the best would be something else. You do it on a nightly basis, but when it all comes together, it's different and it would mean a lot to me, that's for sure.”
He knows he’s in tough, and that all he can do is continue to showcase himself right up until the rosters are announced Dec. 4.
“I think it's such a cool, cool event, and to represent your country will be a dream,” he said.
“It's kind of what you watched when you were younger, so, yeah, I’d be pissed off to miss it because it's such a cool event.
“If they select me, they select me. If they don't, they don't. I'm just pushing for a spot and trying to make it as hard as possible.”
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