Andersson's rank among Flames blueliners discussed

Rasmus Andersson's legacy among Calgary Flames defensemen is under scrutiny as he prepares to face his former team for the first time. Selected 53rd overall in 2015 from the Barrie Colts, Andersson spent 11 years in the Flames organization, playing parts of 10 seasons on the NHL roster.

In January, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Zach Whitecloud, Abram Wiebe, and conditional draft picks in 2027 and 2028. Statistically, Andersson played 584 games for the Flames, ranking seventh in games played among defensemen, behind Mark Giordano, Robyn Regehr, Al MacInnis, TJ Brodie, Gary Suter, and Jamie Macoun.

He scored 57 goals, which also ranks seventh, while only six defensemen have a higher goal total. In terms of assists, he accumulated 204, placing him sixth, and his 261 career points rank him sixth as well.

If evaluating Andersson's offensive production, he stands in the second tier of Flames blueliners, with Hall of Famer MacInnis and notable players like Giordano and Suter ahead of him. On a per-game basis, he averaged 0.45 points, trailing Giordano's 0.54 but surpassing Brodie's 0.42.

Andersson served as an alternate captain for the last four seasons, recognized for his maturity and candidness in the locker room. Despite only appearing in 27 playoff games, he is remembered for his competitive spirit and entertaining on-ice personality, including his post-goal celebrations and interactions with fans.

Overall, while Andersson may not reach the upper echelon of Flames defenders, he has made a significant impact and leaves a lasting legacy within the franchise.