EARFUL FOR ANDERSSON
Friday is departure day for most of the Flames’ development-campers, but defenceman Rasmus Andersson might be sweating a bit before his flight home.
Treliving doesn’t often criticize players publicly, but he didn’t seem thrilled when asked Thursday about the conditioning level of the 19-year-old rearguard.
“A work in progress,” Treliving said, choosing his words carefully. “Ras and I are going to have a little chit-chat tomorrow. They’re young guys, and we all have kids that sometimes you have to tell and tell again. But also, there are times to be pros and doing the right thing. With Ras, the one thing (is) you watch him out on the ice and he’s got such calmness with the puck. He moves it like a pro. But there is more to being a pro than just skating around on the ice.”
Andersson was the Ontario Hockey League’s most offensive defenceman during the 2015-16 campaign, piling up 60 points in 64 regular-season appearances for the Barrie Colts.
It would be a surprise if he’s not playing professionally — likely at AHL Stockton — next fall, but his boss wants to see some strides in his fitness level first.
“We’re not in any position right now where we have alarm bells ringing off,” Treliving said of Andersson, who is currently listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. “But it’s time that, if in fact you want to be a pro this year, there are certain things and expectations, and we’ll go through those again.
“But I really am confident that he’ll show up in September looking the way he should look.”