As the 2025-26 season continues, more trade rumors are bound to pop up. The Calgary Flames are currently dead last in the NHL, and trade talk has already been present regarding the futures of certain veterans on the team.

Rasmus Andersson is one player who will be traded at some point. The 29-year-old defenceman is bound to generate significant interest around the league, as he would be a great addition for any contending team’s blueline. While multiple teams have been in the mix already, a recent report has been taking hockey Twitter/X by storm. According to one source, the Toronto Maple Leafs are heavily interested in acquiring Andersson. Would the Flames entertain trading arguably their biggest trade chip to the Leafs?

Leafs are heavily interested in pursuing Andersson

As mentioned, this bombshell of a report was courtesy of former Leafs player Jay Rosehill. Past reports by other insiders have also suggested that the Leafs have had interest in Andersson since last season, as they apparently took a run at acquiring him near last year’s trade deadline. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially since Leafs GM Brad Treliving knows the player exceptionally well.

I guess the Maple Leafs are working hard to get Rasmus Anderson out of Calgary.
Not sure what they’d have to give to get him tho🤔

— Jay Rosehill (@Jay_D_Rosehill) November 13, 2025

The Leafs are currently experiencing major struggles, as their record falls to 8-8-2. With the pressure the team is under every season, would Treliving be forced to make a move? After all, Andersson would be quite the addition to the team’s top four, but let’s explore this idea further.

What assets does Toronto currently possess?

When Andersson inevitably gets traded, the Flames will be wanting quite a bit in return. However, the first thing that sticks out is that the Leafs’ asset cupboard is bare.

Starting with draft picks. The Leafs don’t have a 1st round pick until 2028. As for other draft picks, they only have a 3rd, 5th and 6th in 2026. They also have a 2nd in 2027

For prospects, it’s bleak. Toronto’s biggest prospect currently is Easton Cowan. The 20-year-old has played 10 games for the Leafs so far this season, recording four points. Would the Leafs be willing to give up Cowan in an Andersson trade?

For roster players, I can’t see any players who would be involved in an Andersson trade. There are players like Max Domi, Brandon Carlo, Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli who have been in trade rumors, but would the Flames be satisfied with any of those players being part of the return for Andersson? I doubt it.

As it stands right now, if the Leafs want to seriously pursue Andersson, they’d need to get creative or be okay with parting with a major asset in their pipeline.

What would the Flames want in return?

When it comes to an Andersson trade, the Flames would want at minimum a 1st and a prospect. Looking at the assets I mentioned above, that means the Flames would need to settle for Toronto’s 1st in 2028. Would they be willing to acquire an asset that far down the road? Essentially, they’d be acquiring a 15-year-old.

As for prospects, like I said. I really don’t see the Flames being interested in any other player in Toronto’s pipeline besides Cowan.

This would be a hard trade to pull off for both parties

If you haven’t caught onto it already, I personally can’t see these two teams engaging in this big of a trade. Simply put, the Leafs don’t have the assets to get a deal done. Their prospect pool is bare, and their next 1st applies in a draft three years from now. The Leafs could go out and acquire assets to get this deal done, but I don’t know how they would do that.

There’s also the “Toronto tax”. It’s no secret that Flames ownership has hesitated to do business with Treliving since he left the organization. With that being said, if a trade were to go down between these two teams, the Flames would demand a lot. Even then, it’s unlikely ownership would be willing to deal with Treliving as their first option.

Here’s a mock deal that I would personally want if a deal for Rasmus Andersson were to happen between these two teams:

To Toronto: Rasmus Andersson (with an extension)

To Calgary: Easton Cowan, 2026 3rd, 2028 1st

For me, a return from the Leafs has to include Cowan and their 2028 first. Even then, the return is not exactly the best for the Flames, given that Cowan would only contribute more to their forward logjam.

In my opinion, other teams around the league could offer a better return for the Flames. Andersson should’ve honestly been traded at last year’s trade deadline, where his value was the highest it’s ever been, or a deal should’ve been done in the offseason. Either way, the Flames are now in a delicate spot and can’t afford to drop the ball when it comes to capitalizing on Andersson’s value.

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