Calgary Herald

FLAMES’ YOUNG D-MAN ROOTING FOR BEST BUDDY BURAKOVSKY

Swedish blue-line prospect has close ties with Capitals forward closing in on Cup

- ERIC FRANCIS efrancis@postmedia.com twitter.com/EricFranci­s

Rasmus Andersson’s best friend since childhood is one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup.

One win away from bringing the most famous trophy in sport to their hometown of Malmo, Sweden, where the two grew up playing hockey together.

So when Andre Burakovsky and his Washington Capitals won Game 4 of their series Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights, Andersson had a simple message for his pal.

“I texted, ‘Go get the next one so we can celebrate this summer,’ ” the Flames defensive prospect said with a chuckle.

“It’s what we both dreamed of growing up two blocks away from each other — hoisting the Cup. He’s one win away and I really hope he pulls it through so he can bring it home.”

Home to where the two young personalit­ies not only played road hockey as kids and adults, but where they also played several years on various Swedish national junior teams as well as one year of pro with the Malmo Redhawks when they were both teens.

“Me, him and my brother are as close as it gets,” said Andersson, 21, who celebrated his first NHL call-up two seasons ago with his first phone call going to Burakovsky as opposed to his family. “When I got called up, he was pretty much the only one who was awake, so I called to tell him and he got really excited for me. I called my mother after that and woke her up (in Sweden) and she flew out the next day.”

Andersson’s dreams of winning the Cup must first start with him cracking an NHL lineup, which he plans to push hard for this fall when the Flames essentiall­y open training camp in China.

To prepare for what he sees as his biggest opportunit­y yet, he decided to try debunking the team’s long-held notion he’s not as dedicated to his fitness as he could be.

So he and his girlfriend got an apartment in Calgary for a seven-week stint here working with Flames strength and conditioni­ng coach Ryan van Asten to prove he’s all in.

“It’s what I’ve got to do to take the next step in this league,” said the six-foot-one, 214-pound Swede, who has toiled in Stockton, Calif., with the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate the last two seasons.

“I want to be done with the AHL and start in the NHL, so I’ll be here for seven weeks going in the right direction. The reason I stayed here is I want to prove to them those days (of being out of shape) are over.”

He’s doing so by spending several hours every day training alongside fellow Flames Troy Brouwer, Michael Stone, Matt Stajan, Brett Kulak, Morgan Klimchuk and others.

“I took a lot of steps last year on my weight and conditioni­ng — my weight is down and now I want to take that final step to be elite on and off the ice.”

Andersson’s stock is certainly rising, giving the Flames even more flexibilit­y to potentiall­y trade a top-four blue-liner this summer for much-needed offence up front.

Unless the Flames trade a top-six defenceman or have one of them go down due to injury, he’ll enter camp battling for seventh on the depth chart with recent first-round pick Juuso Valimaki.

Upon his return to Sweden in early July, he’ll skate with the pro team his father coaches.

“That will be good for me, too,” said Andersson, who had nine goals and 39 points in 56 AHL games this year (and was a whopping plus-20), earning him a 10-game stint with the Flames.

It’s at home, with Burakovsky, where he hopes to take a full day off from training to revel and drink from the Cup his pal is so close to earning.

“For sure, he’ll bring it home,” said Andersson when asked if

It’s what we both dreamed of growing up two blocks away from each other — hoisting the Cup.

Burakovsky would spend his coveted day with the Stanley Cup in Sweden or D.C.

“I don’t really want to bother him too much, so we’ve been texting back and forth. He called me after they won the Eastern Conference and was so happy and excited and couldn’t wait to get started on the final.”

Part of why Burakovsky was so excited stemmed from the fact the 2013 first-rounder scored twice in Game 7 of the conference-clinching win over Tampa Bay. Now Burakovsky can’t wait to finish it.

Nor can Andersson.

“We pretty much grew up with each other as best buddies who love to have fun and it was really fun when he was 17 and I was 16 playing for a pro team,” said Andersson of their year together with Malmo of the Swedish first division, where they both had 11 points.

“I’m excited for him. We’d have so much fun with the Cup.”

 ?? JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS/FILES ?? Flames prospect Rasmus Andersson, chased by Edmonton Oiler Darnell Nurse in pre-season action, wants his buddy Andre Burakovsky and the Washington Capitals to “get the next one” so they can celebrate with the Stanley Cup together in Sweden this summer....
JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS/FILES Flames prospect Rasmus Andersson, chased by Edmonton Oiler Darnell Nurse in pre-season action, wants his buddy Andre Burakovsky and the Washington Capitals to “get the next one” so they can celebrate with the Stanley Cup together in Sweden this summer....
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