Rasmus Andersson, the Calgary Flames' defenseman, finds himself at the epicenter of swirling trade speculation as the NHL offseason gains momentum. With just one year remaining on his current contract, Andersson's future in Calgary is uncertain, fueling numerous rumors and potential landing spots. The 28-year-old defenseman carries a $4.55 million cap hit, making him an attractive target for teams seeking to bolster their blue lines.
Several teams have emerged as potential suitors for Andersson, including the Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and Columbus Blue Jackets. However, Andersson reportedly has a six-team no-trade list and a strong preference for joining the Vegas Golden Knights, which complicates matters for Flames' General Manager Craig Conroy.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Flames have received "phenomenal offers" for Andersson, including a "hell of an offer" from the Los Angeles Kings. However, Andersson has apparently declined to sign an extension with other teams, limiting Calgary's options. Pierre LeBrun of TSN reported that Andersson is only interested in signing an extension with the Golden Knights. Dreger added that the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets also had packages offered to Calgary for Andersson, but he wasn't interested in signing an extension in those places.
Andersson's apparent desire to play for Vegas and his unwillingness to extend with other teams puts the Flames in a challenging position. Calgary would ideally like to secure a significant return for Andersson, especially if he agrees to a sign-and-trade deal. However, knowing Vegas is Andersson's preferred destination, the Golden Knights may be hesitant to offer a premium package.
The Golden Knights' salary cap situation adds another layer of complexity to the potential trade. After signing Mitch Marner to a lucrative contract, Vegas has limited cap space, making it difficult to accommodate Andersson's $4.55 million cap hit and a potential extension. Unless the Flames retain salary or Vegas offloads other contracts, a deal may be difficult to finalize.
If a trade cannot be agreed upon before the start of the season, the Flames may have to wait until the trade deadline to move Andersson. At that point, he would be a short-term rental for any team that isn't sure he'd re-sign. However, the return for Andersson as a rental player would likely be less than what the Flames could get in a sign-and-trade.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Conroy stated that Andersson is "totally fine with playing for the Calgary Flames". However, if Andersson remains on the roster, he will likely face questions about his intentions and the trade rumors, which could become a distraction.
The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear how it will ultimately be resolved. Will Andersson expand his list of acceptable teams, or will he remain firm in his desire to play for Vegas? Will the Golden Knights and Flames find a way to make a trade work, or will Calgary be forced to explore other options? The coming weeks will be crucial in determining Andersson's fate and the direction of the Calgary Flames.
