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The Boston Bruins are looking to quickly pivot after failing to acquire Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. Boston was seen as the favorite to land the star defenseman as of late January 17. At the time, Calgary granted the Bruins permission to discuss a contract extension with Andersson. The veteran’s current deal is set to expire after the 2025-26 season.
Despite this, the two sides could not agree, and Andersson ultimately joined the Las Vegas Knights. Although an extension is not in place in Vegas, the team paid a hefty fee to acquire the star. The Knights sent Zach Whitecloud, a 2027 first-round pick, and a second-round selection in 2028. The latter pick could be upgraded to a first if Vegas hoists the cup this season.
Boston’s move for Andersson essentially ended when an extension could not be ironed out. These failed contract extension discussions with Andersson likely prove that the player wanted more money than Boston was willing to give. Although the trade failed, The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa claims that the pursuit means Bruins GM Don Sweeney “is looking to improve the franchise for today and tomorrow — within reason.”
Without an extension, Andersson would have likely been a rental for Boston. As Shinzawa points out, the Bruins have traded for rentals in the past. Nevertheless, this was at a time (2023) when Boston was a Stanley Cup favorite en route to collecting the Presidents’ Trophy. Now, the team is barely hanging onto a playoff spot, and officials have an eye on the future.
Boston Bruins Offered Huge Package to Flames for Rasmus Andersson
GettyFailed Rasmus Andersson move shows the intent of the Bruins’ front office.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman essentially reiterated Shinzawa’s assertions on the situation. In his latest 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman claimed that “Boston put something big on the table” for Andersson.
He also revealed that a deal between the Bruins and Flames was seemingly close because of a potential contract extension. “I had heard around the Calgary room that there was talk that Andersson was close to taking an extension in Boston,” stated Friedman.
While Andersson chose Vegas, fans in Boston should at least be hopeful that Sweeney is willing to take a big swing. This comes even though the Bruins do not have a lot of money to work with. According to PuckPedia.com, Boston has just $1 million in current cap space.
Hot Bruins Expected to Eye Moves That Will Keep Them Competitive for Years
Boston’s stance on becoming buyers in the trade market comes as the club is one of the hottest teams in the league. The Bruins have collected six consecutive victories and are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Their resurgence is partially due to key players returning from various injuries. Charlie McAvoy, Elias Lindholm, Viktor Arvidsson, and Casey Mittelstadt have all returned to the ice after dealing with issues.
With important players healthy again, the Bruins brass will be looking to add to their roster ahead of the playoffs. Rentals, however, are unlikely to be brought in. Instead, the team is much more likely to focus on players under contract or willing to sign an extension. Boston has their best players locked in for the next few seasons and will look to remain competitive for the near future.
Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore
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