Yegor Sharangovich #17 and Rasmus Andersson #4 of the Calgary Flames celebrate after scoring against the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
The Calgary Flames continue to have a great start to the season. Whether the Flames are true buyers or not is still to be determined. However, Calgary, like most teams around the NHL, is always looking to improve and add to its roster.
As previously documented in an interview with Flames GM Craig Conroy, he wants to add an age-appropriate player, but it will be tricky with a first-round draft pick tied up in the Sean Monahan deal with the Montreal Canadiens that dates back to 2022.
However, that has not stopped him from looking to fill a crucial need at the center position.
"You're always looking to fill the holes, or to make trades, find guys, something you don't have on your team, and maybe you don't have in your pipeline," Conroy told RG.
"When I talk to teams, I had talked about a right-shot center, and a lot of teams are looking for a right-shot center. So, it's not easy. Those are the things you know when you talk to teams."
Conroy and the Flames have been looking for a center going back to last year when the team traded Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks. They only have Mikael Backlund, Nazem Kadri, Martin Pospisil, and Kevin Rooney that are true centers, but are all left-shot centermen.
Again, if the Flames can add a center who is a right shot and under the age of 30, Conroy would be willing to move one of his first-round picks who fits his team's timeline and age.
Keeping Andersson Around
Speaking of controllable, defenseman Rasmus Andersson is having a great season playing alongside Kevin Bahl. The two have formed a strong bond and have made an excellent shutdown duo for the Flames. Andersson's name is coming up in trade discussions, despite having an extra year on his contract beyond this season.
However, Andersson is a player Conroy can see with the Flames long-term as a cornerstone to the defense.
"Rasmus is definitely a player I can see long-term for us. And again, some of this decision is up to him. But I do know, talking to him, he really loves Calgary,” Conroy said.
Unlike Noah Hanifin, who was an unrestricted free agent last season, Rasmus Andersson is a homegrown talent who loves being a member of the Flames and being in Calgary.
Andersson is eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2025. He has the right to test the market in the summer of 2026 like any other player, but Andersson fits the age range of the team Craig Conroy is building, as he looks to retool the team on the fly.
"And again, some of this decision is up to him," Conroy said. "When you have a player who likes the market and wants to be there, you try to get that guy signed. And he's at a great age."
The Flames have a workhorse in Andersson, who is averaging around 25 minutes a night. Those players are hard to come by. The fact Conroy is already thinking about an extension is a good thing for Ryan Huska and the Calgary Flames.
It is going to take a lot to get Andersson out of Calgary because the reputation of guys not wanting to be in Calgary is changing.
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Jim Biringer
