CALGARY — Darryl Sutter points out that every team that wins the Stanley Cup has that stud defenceman, the game-breaking minute-muncher who runs the power play, stars defensively and is a leader in every way.
With only one exception in the last three decades (Carolina in 2006) a glance at the Cup winners includes names like Makar, Hedman, Pietrangelo, Carlson, Letang, Keith, Doughty, Chara, Lidstrom, Pronger, Niedermayer, Bourque, Blake and Coffey.
While the Flames’ blue line brigade has the sort of talent and depth to be considered amongst the league’s best, the question is whether Rasmus Andersson or MacKenzie Weegar can take that next step to NHL elite.
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 200px 1fr;
gap: 20px;
width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 16px;
border: 1px solid #CECECE;
background-color: #FFF;
border-radius: 4px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info a {
text-decoration: none;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-title {
color: #343434;
font-family: ‘roboto’;
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: 600;
line-height: 22px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
top: -3px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-body {
color: #343434;
font-family: ‘urw-din’;
font-size: 16px;
line-height: 20px;
margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-link-title {
display: inline-block;
font-family: ‘urw-din’;
font-size: 16px;
list-style-type: none;
width: auto;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-link-title:not(:last-child):after {
content: ‘ | ‘;
color: #343434;
}
On Saturday night, Flames fans got a glimpse of exactly what Sutter is hoping for.
At the tail end of a tight, overtime battle with a formidable Carolina crew, Andersson capped a career-high 27-minute effort with the type of game-winning rush the aforementioned defenders made a living out of.
Circling back into his own zone to gain speed along the ride side of the ice, Andersson blew by Martin Necas at centre, before bulldozing his way past Sebastian Aho along the boards at the blueline. Cutting towards the net, he dropped a perfect pass onto Tyler Toffoli’s tape for a one-timer inside the post that completed the comeback win.
“It was kind of a missed play by them,” said Andersson, downplaying his savvy foray.
“I came with a lot of speed and as soon as I beat the first guy, their second guy jumped right away and I got lucky enough to still have the puck. Toff was wide open, so it was nice to see that one go in.”
It capped a two-point effort for the 25-year-old Swede, who earlier assisted on a Nazem Kadri power-play goal that kick-started a Flames team that was down 2-0 early.
A sign of things to come?
Well, given the breakout season he had last year, it’s more likely a sign of even better things to come.
In his first full year as power-play quarterback last season, Andersson finished 20th amongst NHL defenders with four goals and 50 points.
Only eight defencemen had more than his 46 assists, and his plus-30 was 14th best amongst his peers.
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-147867” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6314212596112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6314212596112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6314212596112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”)
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”)
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-147867” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6314212596112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CP165101093-1024×576.png”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/flames-andersson-streaks-set-toffoli-overtime-game-winner/”
});
});
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-651704” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6314212596112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6314212596112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6314212596112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”)
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”)
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-651704” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6314212596112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CP165101093-1024×576.png”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/flames-andersson-streaks-set-toffoli-overtime-game-winner/”
});
});
.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::before {
content: “”;
position: absolute;
top: 50%;
left: 50%;
transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
height: 24px;
border-top: 14px solid transparent;
border-left: 22px solid #fff;
border-bottom: 14px solid transparent;
margin-left: 3px;
}
Can his steady progression from out-of-shape, second-round prospect to team-leading defenceman continue to see him climb the league’s scoring ranks?
More importantly, can he be the all-around defenceman the Flames can count on more than anyone else?
“Ya, I mean, obviously that’s what I aim for,” shrugged Andersson, a fierce competitor who is also amongst team leaders in trash talk. “I want to build off last year.
“All the players in the league want to be that guy, but you’ve just got to take that next step and that’s what I want to do this year.”
Part of that means shooting more, which is something he’s spoken openly about adding to his repertoire.
“I almost had the least amount of shots on the defence last year,” said the man who had 152 shots in 82 games last season. “I’ve always been a pass-first kind of guy, and that won’t change, but I definitely want to shoot more and lay a few more in there and try to create something from my shots. I know I have a good shot, so just shoot a bit more.”
He did that Saturday, resulting in a juicy rebound that Kadri buried for the game-turning snipe.
While it may be hard for Flames fans to envision Andersson occupying the same sort of rarified air as the list of luminaries above, teammate Blake Coleman is quick to point out the Flames don’t necessarily need him to be quite that prolific for their club to chase a Cup.
“I don’t think there are many guys that are like (Victor) Hedman,” said Coleman, who won two Cups alongside the Lightning’s monster star. “But I think the reason you typically have that stud defenceman stand out, and play so much, is because usually the fifth or sixth defencemen are a little bit shaky in some sense.
“We don’t really have that issue. We don’t need to hide anybody like other teams that are unlikely to roll six defencemen and feel confident, like we can.
“So it’s definitely more by committee here.
“You definitely need a defenceman who can run the power play, and I think Razzy certainly did a good job at that last year.”
This year too, as three of his six points are on the man advantage, which has played a huge role in the team’s 4-1 start, operating at 31.3%.
Defensively, he has manned the top pairing alongside Noah Hanifin, playing a huge role in the team’s vaunted penalty kill as well.
After Saturday’s 3-2 win, goalie Jacob Markstrom praised Andersson for the hard minutes he put in, especially late in the game when they killed off a four-minute penalty.
“He was on for a few shifts when they really had the momentum in the first and third and the penalty kill was unbelievable, which gave us a real lift,” said Markstrom of the type of multi-dimensional impact Andersson is capable of having.
“I remember playing against him when I first came in the league, and he was always a really good skater, and I think the more he’s playing the more confidence he’s getting,” added Toffoli.
“That was just a great play (in overtime) and he made a great play on the power play as well.”
The Flames can only hope Andersson can evolve into being every bit as important and dominant as former Flame Mark Giordano was when he won his Norris Trophy here.
“He played with Gio in that 1-2 spot a lot and learned a lot from him,” said winger Dillon Dubé. “Playing 27 minutes against a heavy team like Carolina, that’s a lot of battles to put yourself in a spot to win in overtime. It just shows what he’s capable of.
“He’s just so well-rounded defensively. Underrated too. He does everything. He’s coming into his own, getting better every single year and taking those steps.”
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
gap: 20px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
color: black;
}
