A conversation with Niclas Andersen, Q&A style

I had a chance to speak with newly signed Swedish defenseman Niclas Andersen this afternoon. Here is a transcript of the majority of the conversation:

Q: So you know Patric Hornqvist?

A: I do. He’s just one year older than me. I grew up playing with him on the national team so I know him pretty well.

Q: Have you had a chance to speak with him yet?

A: No I haven’t actually. It was pretty fast few days from Sunday when I heard from the Penguins and a couple hours after I signed. I haven’t called him yet and haven’t talked him yet. I will in a couple of days here when things slow down.

Q: When do you plan to come to Pittsburgh?

A: September. I’ll go to Pittsburgh a week before the main camp starts just to get to know the town and the organization.

Q: Would you describe yourself as a stay-at-home defenseman?

A: I would say a stay-at-home defenseman would be the accurate thing. I’ve been more of a defensive player. When I moved to play in Russia for two years I developed my offensive skills and had to get control of the puck, try and make the play, join the rush, so I developed over there. I think I developed more even this year too. But I wouldn’t say offense is my top thing but it’s a little more than [it was].”

Q: What factored into your decision to play in the KHL?

A: It was my first time not playing in Sweden. It was a fun time to live in Russia with everything that comes with living in another country and taking care of yourself.

Q: What happened when you were drafted by L.A. in 2006?

A: At that time I signed with the team I was playing for [this past year]. I wanted to go to that level and play pro so I signed with them (Brynas) and wanted to play in the Swedish league. I was there for the development camp during the summer but never came as far to discuss any contract or anything like that. I was pretty focused on taking a spot on my Swedish team at that moment eventually go there in a couple years but after that I didn’t hear anything. Until now.

Q: Do you regret not pursuing the NHL more back then?

A: I would say I do not really regret anything in my life or my decisions I made with hockey. I think that the decision I made at that time to stay here was to become one of the best defensemen in this league and then to try to get to the national team. After that I went to Russia, made that decision. I think I’ve always made the decision to make myself better, play a better game….The NHL has always been my mission, my goal. Of course when you get older it gets harder and harder to go to the NHL. [I was] always making decisions thinking it would be the best development for me to get to the NHL. It’s the best league in the world and where I want to be and try to fit in.

Q: What would you say you can bring to the Penguins right now?

A: I played in the highest levels that I can, in the KHL against a lot of great players and in the world championships. It’s going to be hard when I come there for a new town and new country. Smaller ice. It’s going to be an adjustment for me too but I feel pretty confident I can give the team something, especially to come out there and give 100 percent and be the guy they can count on in the end of games for killing penalties and blocking shots. Whatever the coach wants me to do I can do. I want to get better. I want to be a Penguin and be a part of the team that gets better and wins…whatever the coach and the team wants me to do I’m prepared to do.”