Flames D-man Rasmus Andersson thrilled to hear what Al MacInnis thinks of his game

ST. LOUIS – Rasmus Andersson is too young to have seen Al MacInnis shatter glass with his slap shot, or rack up a record number of assists as a Flames legend.

But he’s old enough to understand the brilliance of ol’ Chopper’s career and the weight the Hall of Famer’s opinion carries.

So when the greatest defenceman in Flames history reveals he sees plenty of himself in Andersson’s game, you can understand the impact.

“He’s a better skater than I was, but he kind of reminds me a little bit of myself,” said MacInnis from high atop Enterprise Center, where the Flames split a two-game series this week against a Blues team for which he serves as senior advisor to the GM.

“He actually played against my son Ryan when he was with Kitchener, and I saw him play in Barrie.

“He doesn’t skate like (Cale) Makar, but he’s got good sense, he’s up in the play, at times makes the simple play, he’s a good power-play guy.

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“You can just see, every year, he’s gained more confidence.

“He’s turned himself into one of the top guys in the league.”

As part of a measured ascension that has indeed seen Andersson emerge as the Flames’ no. 1 defenceman, accolades like these affirm he continues to trend toward being among the league’s most dependable blue-liners.

To that point, the only four NHLers who’ve logged more ice time than Andersson this year are all Norris Trophy winners: Drew Doughty, Makar, Erik Karlsson and Adam Fox.

Indeed, people outside Calgary are starting to take notice.

Andersson won’t be in the upcoming All-Star Game, at which MacInnis won seven hardest-shot competitions, but he could easily have been named ahead of Nazem Kadri.

That day will come for the 26-year-old Swede, whose four game-winning goals are tops among NHL blue-liners.

And when it does, it will represent yet another step for the second-rounder who was pleasantly surprised to hear of MacInnis’ praise.

“That’s obviously the first time I’ve heard it – it’s a huge compliment,” said Andersson, who has the same stature as MacInnis, at 6-foot-2, 202 pounds.

“You have so much respect for the older guys, especially in that era.

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“I try to play my style every night, and if that reminds Al MacInnis of me, I’ll take that every night of the week.”

Andersson’s father, Peter, played in the same era as MacInnis, but if Pops ever raved about model defencemen from his time, it was more apt to be teammate Brian Leetch in New York.

But Andersson knows of MacInnis’ standing as a Flames luminary, and as owner of one of the hardest shots in league lore.

“I know of him – he obviously had a bomb of a shot,” said Andersson of a man whose glass-shattering blast off the mask of Kelly Hrudey prompted NHL ’94 to include it in the video game.

“I know he was a really good player here, and in Calgary.

“I’ve seen his stats and he obviously had a hell of a career.”

“Pretty cool he’d say that about me.”

Even cooler, and somewhat surprising, is the fact Andersson has actually recorded a harder shot than MacInnis’ top speed of 101.3 mph.

“I had 101.4 mph in the AHL All-Star Game,” said Andersson, laughing when asked if he won the competition.

“A guy in L.A., Martin Frk, shot 107 mph.

“I finished third or fourth. I saw his shot, and I was up after him, and said, ‘This is not good.’”

Anything over 100 mph is plenty good, albeit with the benefit of composite sticks MacInnis did without in his 23-year career, cut short by an eye injury in 2005.

Andersson has spoken often of his desire to fire his cannon from the point more often, which he’s done effectively this season as the club’s power-play quarterback.

What’s made him even more dangerous is his comfort level jumping up in the play, which has led to several of his dramatic game-winners this season.

A couple shootout goals have also put his skill as a finisher on display, as part of a season in which he sits tied with Norris winner Victor Hedman at 19th among defencemen, with five goals and 27 points.

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Suffice it to say he’s earned the respect of Flames coach Darryl Sutter, who pointed out at the beginning of the season how every recent Stanley Cup winner has that stud defenceman who can log massive minutes while playing in every scenario imaginable.

Andersson is proving to be that guy.

“Darryl puts a lot of trust in me with the minutes and obviously his trust means a lot – it’s a hard thing to do, especially if you’re a young guy,” said Andersson, averaging almost 25 minutes a night in a season in which he topped out at over 31 minutes one evening.

“Play the right way, and Darryl is honest with you.

“With him it’s every night, there’s no off-nights.

“Even when you’re not feeling it, you have to battle, and that’s something I’m getting better at.

“I feel I should be one of the leading defencemen on this team, and I think I’ve proven that on a regular basis, and that’s what this league is all about.”

Crediting previous Flames coach Bill Peters for giving him his first crack at being an NHL regular four seasons ago, he also had the benefit of playing alongside and learning from Mark Giordano, another model of consistency.

But no one in Flames lore was as steady or prolific at the back end as MacInnis, who still holds the club record with 609 assists.

“Those are the type of guys you look up to,” said Andersson, who credits having a young family for helping his mindset.

The type who set the standard Andersson will continue striving for.

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