Strong Words Support Thought Top Flames Defenseman Is Staying With Flames

We've heard similar words before. Maybe just not quite as strongly as those formed by Rasmus Andersson this week. Praise for the Calgary Flames, and a promise that they want to stick around — familiar to those who remember the sting of losing both Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in the same offseason.

Both those talented young forwards made decisions to move on from the Flames after convincingly talking about their potential futures in Calgary.

Those words were truthful at the time. So, too, was the unfiltered commentary from Andersson in an interview with Sportsnet's Eric Francis. With plenty of trade talk surrounding the 28-year-old, Andersson put his Flames passion on display.

“I love playing here and I’ve always loved playing here and that’s never going to change,” Andersson told Francis. “I hate the Oilers, I hate the Canucks and that’s just the way I am."

Check those two teams off his six-team no-trade list.

In all seriousness, the noise about Andersson's potential departure is growing as the NHL trade deadline approaches. The thing is — and we've written about it before — it may also benefit the Calgary Flames to keep this kind of passionate player around.

He's a goal-scoring threat from the back end, plays with intensity and rallies the room. Right now his salary is a bargain. Even with a substantial raise, he still has significant value to any team looking to compete.

The season had barely started when the trade rumors began. They've certainly continued, with his name mentioned just about every time an NHL center seems to hit the trade market.

“I’ve got no say in it – I have a six-team no trade list, so it’s out of my hands,” Andersson said on Friday. “July 1 is when I can re-sign, and we’re in January.

"It’s all in (GM Craig Conroy) Connie 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.”

That power shifts next season if no extension is put into place next summer. As a pending UFA with no more term and the Flames still looking to add youth to the roster, things could change for Andersson. If both truly want him to remain a Flames asset, an extension sooner than later should be the goal.

"I hope I’m staying. I have always loved playing for this team," Andersson said. "And that will never change."

It's tough not to believe him. Business or not.