It’s always interesting the way something like trading a player like Rasmus Andersson plays out.  Following steps happen more than you would think…but are rarely this…obvious.

1. They started off with the Flames asking for two first-round draft picks.

2. Calgary found out that there weren’t many teams willing to, or even able to, accommodate that ask.

3. At least three NHL teams were then told that Andersson was not willing to negotiate an extension because this is his first chance, and possibly only chance, to try free agency, and he really wanted to do that on July 1.

4. Of course, that didn’t help Calgary, and now the ask for two first-round draft picks turned into one first-round pick and a “player of comparable value.”

5. This ask still became a large one because teams still saw Rasmus Andersson as a rental only.

6. So it basically stalled.

7. Next step, the agent wanting to get his player to a strong team to increase his value did what he should do, which is talk to the media and start talking about teams that were very interested, even comparing offers to media people, who then made a natural assumption that the best offer was coming from the Boston Bruins, which I believe is true.

8. Until this point, I have had Rasmus Andersson favored to go to the Vegas Golden Knights.

9. Yesterday, some insiders who are very connected and talk to agents and GMs actually reported that the Vegas offer was not as strong as Boston’s. When someone reports something like that, we’re not talking about rumors anymore; we’re talking about direct information insiders received on the negotiations of a trade. You may ask yourself, “Why would a team tell a reporter that one offer is better than the other?” You may ask yourself, “How did I get here?” This is not my beautiful house.

10. As I’ve said many times, NHL people don’t just share this kind of information with reporters because they love them as people. They leak this information to get it out there publicly.

11. Yesterday, while these reports were going on, reports also surfaced that Rasmus Andersson may be a healthy scratch for the game at 3 PM. Again, realize that putting out that information, along with the information that one team has a stronger offer than another team, is unfortunately ramping up the heat on Vegas in particular.

12. Andersson played in the game and was actually the third star of the game. The Calgary Flames fans in attendance cheered Rasmus as if this was the last time they would ever see him in a Flames uniform. Do you see where this is all going?

13. Vegas must not have upped their offer because today reports are coming out, and they might have been out last night, that Boston is the first team to be given permission to talk to Rasmus Andersson about an extension. Remember, Rasmus Andersson has clearly stated to other teams that he wants the opportunity to try free agency on July 1 and would not sign an extension with anybody he was traded to. Has he gone back on his word? I don’t think so. It’s important to read these kinds of reports for exactly what they’re saying: “Boston is the first team granted permission to talk to him about an extension.” All this does is attempt to put more pressure on Vegas because simply granting permission to a team doesn’t mean that suddenly the player wants to sign an extension.

14. Rasmus Andersson could be a Bruin as early as today. That could happen, and for certain that could happen. Rasmus could also surprise everybody and sign an extension. While that will leave a lot of teams pretty angry, it truly doesn’t matter that they’re angry. Rasmus Andersson holds the cards here.

15. The only thing we can say for certain here is that the Flames are doing everything they can in their power to get the most they can for this player, including negotiating trades through the media. That’s not a criticism; I’ve been involved in these before as well.

16. The only thing important to realize here is that this is a game. In this particular game, you’re seeing all the cards the teams and agents can play. There really is nowhere else to go for the agent or the Flames at this point. They’ve done all they can to create a marketplace for a very good defenseman who doesn’t want to sign an extension. And that is their job.

I will have. RUMOR CHART UPDATE later today…Sunday Mornings sources tend to sleap in…enjoy your day.