NHL Mailbag: How long does Rasmus Andersson remain in Calgary?
The summer DFO Mailbag chugs along as we near the end of the dog days of summer. What NHL questions have the readers cooked up this week?
Can a team win with three 2C level centers (no true 1C) and four to six elite wingers? Is that what the Flyers are trying to build? Has it ever worked before?
— McPhlyers (@McPhlyers) August 25, 2025It isn’t ideal, but it has been done before where a team has won a Stanley Cup without an authentic No. 1 center. The most recent example: the St. Louis Blues in 2019, with Ryan O’Reilly, Brayden Schenn and Tyler Bozak down the middle in their top nine. After that, you probably have to go all the way back to 2007 when the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup with Andy McDonald, Ryan Getzlaf (pre-prime level) and Rob Niedermayer as their top-three pivots.
The word “elite” is subjective, but as currently constructed, building high-end wingers around a well-rounded center position is likely what the Philadelphia Flyers are aiming for. Barring a resurgence-plus from new arrival Trevor Zegras, the Flyers don’t figure to have a surefire top dog down the middle; much like they did in 2010 in their runner-up effort versus the Chicago Blackhawks, the Flyers will likely look for overall depth at the position.
So can it be done? Yes. Does it having a No. 1 center make it harder? Also yes.
Guess what are the 3 biggest story lines for the pacific division heading into this season?
— Big Daddy (@bigdaddybustard) August 26, 2025
Well the first one is easy, and that is the looming contract extension of Connor McDavid. I fully expect McDavid’s deal to get done and see him become the league’s highest paid player, but until there is pen to paper, there will be no short of speculation on the matter. All eyes will be on the Edmonton Oilers until this mega-deal gets done.
Mitch Marner’s arrival in Sin City is second, as the Vegas Golden Knights once again found a way to land the biggest fish on the market. With the Jack Eichel extension looming for the Knights, GM Kelly McCrimmon (at the very least) locked in an insurance policy in case his top-line center ultimately walks in free agency. But until then, watching how Eichel and Marner connect on the Vegas top line will be fascinating; as we know, Marner tends to perform well with American-born centermen.
Third is the Vancouver Canucks – plain and simple. What about them? Honestly, anything, because the Canucks can never seem to get out of their own way and not be a tire fire every second year. Just when you think they’re in a good spot, the wheels come off the tracks. A new head coach in Adam Foote will get his chance to get this once-promising team back on the rails; they can only hope, as the Quinn Hughes contract extension looms.
Any update on the Marty Necas contract situation, will the Avs let this drag out into the season?
— College/NFL Stadiums Reviews (@CollegenflS) August 26, 2025Here’s the thing: the Colorado Avalanche have bigger fish to fry right now. Yes, Cale Makar can’t sign an extension for another 10 months (and change), but GM Chris MacFarland has to start game planning for that; after all, it was the driving force behind the decision to move on from Mikko Rantanen. I also reckon the Avalanche would like to see a bit more of Necas before committing major bucks to him, given that he has been a part of the organization for less than a year.
I don’t think we will see a similar fiasco play out as we did with Rantanen last season, but I’d expect the Avalanche are comfortable getting more of a sample size out of Necas before locking him up to a longer-term commitment.
Tyler Whillens on Facebook asks: will Rasmus Andersson be a Calgary Flame opening night?
Will he be a Flame on opening night? Yes. Will he finish the season with the Flames? That much seems heavily doubtful at the very best.
GM Craig Conroy has been no stranger to players wanting out of Alberta since taking over the big chair in 2023 – it appears things will be no different this season with Andersson. The Flames will be looking to take another step in their rebuild, but with speculation running rampant in regards to Andersson wanting out, that may have to be punted until 2026.
Nhlhallofgood on Instagram asks: which current NHL player belongs in the “Hall of Good?”
I’ve long been of the belief that the Hall of Fame rules are far too loose and that the honor should be bestowed upon the best of the best – there are many “good but not great” guys already in the hall, in my opinion. But in a world where the HOG is a real thing, Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux would be the star of the inaugural class.
A top-five point producer of the 2010s and Hart Trophy finalist, Giroux hedged on being among the league’s elite several times throughout his career with the Flyers. His best days are long behind him, but he has still been an effective contributor for the Senators even in his late 30s. But with no Stanley Cups or individual accolades to himself, it is hard to consider Giroux a Hall of Famer based on my standards.
He may be among the best of the “good,” but Giroux falls short of the Hall of Fame and would be a prime candidate in the Hall of Good.
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