Two of the leading hockey insiders seem to be anticipating a Rasmus Andersson trade, although both say the Calgary Flames are willing to wait on the right offer.
Andersson’s uncertain future is the biggest off-season storyline for the Flames, and the speculation will continue to crank with the latest reports from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.
“The feeling across the league is the talented defenceman is ready for something new,” Friedman wrote in his latest edition of 32 Thoughts. “I believe the Flames are willing, but only when they get what they want. There’s significant interest, which helps.”
Impact player
Andersson, 28, is about to enter the final year of his current contract.
While he’s eligible to sign an extension as soon as July 1, that might not make a whole lot of sense for either side.
The Flames certainly value Andersson’s impact — he’s an alternate captain, a tone-setter and has led the team in average ice-time in three of the past four seasons — but they also won’t want to block the ascent of highly-touted blue-line prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Zayne Parekh, which means they might be hesitant to offer a max-term deal.
Hunter Brzustewicz (left) was photographed during a 2024 Calgary Flames training camp at WinSport; and Zayne Parekh was photographed during a morning skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Brzustewicz and Parekh, like Andersson, have right-shot curves on their sticks. Ditto for MacKenzie Weegar, who is signed through 2030-31.
In an interview earlier this week with Postmedia, Flames general manager Craig Conroy provided this update on Andersson: “We’ve been talking to his representation. We understand where they’re at and they understand where we’re at and we’re going through that process, but at least we have some clarity on where we’re headed.”
Does that clarity point to the possibility that Andersson, who turns 29 in October, will sooner than later be wearing a different jersey?
“Flames and Rasmus Andersson’s camp shared $ figures recently and it’s fair to say they’re not on the same page, as expected,” Seravalli wrote on X, sharing a link to his latest Trade Targets board. “Calgary is happy to keep him and auction arguably the premier right-shot D option at the deadline. But he’s also available now.”
While Andersson finished this past season with an ugly minus-38 rating, there should be widespread interest in his services. Rival executives will definitely appreciate that, as the Flames were scratching for a wild-card berth, he was willing to persevere through the pain of a broken fibula.
Now with 500-plus games of NHL experience, Andersson is still in the prime of his career and plays with the sort of jam that every organization covets. It’s a major compliment to his leadership abilities that he was named Sweden’s captain at the recent world championship tournament, and it only adds to the appeal for any could-be contenders that he is signed for one more season at a very affordable cap-hit of US$4.55 million.
Although his offensive numbers dipped in 2024-25, he still scored 11 goals — each capped with his stare-down celebration — and contributed 20 assists.
Potential suitors
While Andersson’s no-trade protection is limited to a six-team list, he will likely have more control than that. To maximize the return value, the Flames will presumably allow potential suitors to discuss the parameters of an extension. If the rugged rearguard isn’t willing to ink a long-term deal in that destination, their interest could cool.
Andersson has been mentioned as a potential fit for the Carolina Hurricanes or Dallas Stars, though they are already facing a cap crunch in Big D.
Some have wondered if Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, Andersson’s old boss in Calgary, will try to bring him to Toronto.
Many Flames fans are playing matchmaker with the Buffalo Sabres, hoping to pry talented winger JJ Peterka away from western New York.
With the 2025 NHL Draft less than a week away, trade speculation will continue to heat up.
Flames GM Craig Conroy is seen prior to Round 1 of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena in this photo from June 28, 2023, in Nashville.
In each of the past two years, Conroy has swapped a veteran player during draft week — sending out Tyler Toffoli in 2023 and Andrew Mangiapane last summer. Both were about to enter the final year on their contracts in Calgary.
Conroy has also shown a willingness to wait in that same scenario, as he did with Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, so it’s certainly possible Andersson will arrive at training camp in the fall to begin his 10th campaign with the Flames.
Related
Andersson was honest on locker clean-out day in mid-April that he couldn’t crystal-ball the future, but some perceived his comments as a just-in-case farewell to the C of Red.
“I wish I could say, ‘Hey, I’m signing July 1st,’ but I can’t at the moment. Or, ‘I’m getting traded July 1st.’ I just don’t know, right?” Andersson said that day at the Saddledome. “I hope the fans know I’ve loved every second of it. I’ve never taken it for granted. I hope I’m here for many years to come, but this is where it’s a big decision for me and the Flames.”