Call-up Andersson shows poise against Red Wings

Rasmus Andersson knows his days in Calgary could be numbered. The 21-year-old Calgary Flames defenceman was recalled a week ago from the American Hockey League in the wake of Travis Hamonic’s lower-body injury, and, on Sunday, it appeared that Hamonic was a little closer to returning to the lineup.

But having been through this scenario before, Andersson can only control a few elements — how he practises and plays.

“You can’t really think too much ahead,” said the Flames secondround pick of the 2015 NHL Draft. “You’re here as long as they tell me to be here. I want to spend my career here, and I thought I made a strong impression.

“If I get back in the lineup, that’s how I’ve gotta play.”

His second NHL game ever, Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, saw him finish plus-2 with zero points in 13:56 of icetime which, for an AHL call-up, is decent. He played with confidence, jumping into the play and communicating effectively on a blueline pairing with Brett Kulak.

No visible mistakes. No errors. But, still, a few things to work on.

Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan pointed out his gap control which comes with experience and time spent in the NHL.

“It’s highly correctable,” Gulutzan said. “It was his first game against arguably one of the fastest group of forwards we’ve faced this year. When you get in those situations, you’re managing and you don’t want to make any big mistakes and expose yourself.

“But that’s something we’ve talked to him about and want him to work on. His puck game was real clean, and he can make plays under pressure. But the ability to close out time and space is something we want him to work on.” He agreed. “Obviously it’s much quicker up here and the gap control is quicker,” Andersson said. “You have to get up quicker and get back quicker. It’s one of those things, you get more used to it the more you play. Hopefully I’ll have a few more games here.”

The Flames do, however, like Andersson’s confidence.

“He’s not a jittery player,” Gulutzan said. “That’s the impressive part, and that’s why we like him so much. We like his poise with the puck. He doesn’t get rattled under pressure.”

Andersson said his confidence is growing with each passing day with the Flames.

“You trust yourself more and more the longer you’re up here,” he said. “It’s not my first time anymore, and it feels better now. I felt like I played a strong game and moved the puck well. The more you play games, the more comfortable you get on a nightly basis.”