‘I’m very proud’: Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson departs for 4 Nations Face-Off​on February 9, 2025 at 9:30 pm

Andersson’s excitement has been building since late November, when he received word that he would be named to this squad.

He has been waiting for more than a decade for another opportunity to rock the Tre Kronor, or Three Crowns, logo. His last international event was World Under-18s in 2014. About two months later, the Flames called his name in the second round of the NHL Draft, and the righty rearguard since logged more than 500 appearances at the big-league level.

Just the other day, Andersson was showing off some of the special-edition gear that he’ll be using over the next week and change, including sticks with the Swedish flag on the shaft.

He’ll have a personal fan club at the 4 Nations Face-Off, with his wife and two kids, his mom, his sister and his mother-in-law all in attendance. (His dad and brother both work in the Swiss League, one as a coach and the other as a blue-liner, so they’ll be tracking the action on TV.)

“Oh, he was pretty happy when he was selected,” said Flames general manager Craig Conroy. “Just to be there and be a part of this, it’s a great opportunity. Any time you can play for your country, whether it’s 4 Nations, Olympics, whatever, I think it’s an amazing experience.”

Heading into the pause, Andersson ranks eighth in the NHL in total ice time this season. In 55 games, he’s already cleared 22 hours.

He has contributed eight goals — just three shy of matching his career-high — and 13 assists so far. While he has the worst plus-minus on Calgary’s team charts, 16 strokes south of par, that says more about who he is matched up against than how he’s been performing. It speaks volumes that the Flames are 14-3 — that’s an .824 point percentage — when this heart-and-soul sort is a plus-player at the end of the night.

That’s why Conroy has repeated several times that he is aiming to extend Andersson before his current contract runs out at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

When Sidney Crosby or Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid rolls through the Saddledome, No. 4 is always assigned to try to keep ’em off the scoring summary.

On Wednesday, he could potentially find himself penalty-killing against all three.

“I think a lot of people know how great of a player he is, but I don’t know if to the extent,” said Weegar, who was strongly considered for a spot on Team Canada. “I mean, he’s playing both sides of the puck, shutting down top lines. He’s doing everything he can. He’s a leader in this room and he’s going to play best-on-best with a great hockey team that has just a stacked defensive core, and he made that team.

“I’m excited for him. I hope he does a great job. I hope he does well, and I’m sure he will. It will be weird to root against him.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

Canada vs. Sweden, 6 p.m. MT, Sportsnet

United States vs. Finland, 6 p.m. MT, Sportsnet

Finland vs. Sweden, 11 a.m. MT, Sportsnet

Canada vs. United States, 6 p.m. MT, Sportsnet

Canada vs. Finland, 11 a.m. MT, Sportsnet

Sweden vs. United States, 6 p.m. MT, Sportsnet

Championship game, 6 p.m. MT, Sportsnet