Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

*PREDICTION*

As the NHL trade season fully starts to ramp up, we have already seen some of the bigger names across the league being moved. Due to this, it could open the floodgates in terms of movement, and there could be a ton of trades going down.

One name that has remained very much alive in trade rumors since the summer is Calgary Flames veteran defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Andersson is easily one of the better players who may be available at the trade deadline, and we could see him being moved.

The veteran will be entering into unrestricted free agency this summer, and the Flames have shown no indication of getting a new deal done with him. This has caused trade speculation to spike, and the 29-year-old seems likely to be moved to have Calgary avoid losing him for nothing in free agency.

Andersson only has a cap hit of $4.6 million for this year, making it easier for the Flames to engage with teams on a deal. However, he does have a six-team no-trade list that could complicate matters.

But Andersson remains a strong player, and his trade market could be very high for Calgary this season. Last year with the Flames, the veteran put up 11 goals and 20 assists over 81 games played in the regular season.

If Andersson is moved, we can expect Calgary to hold a reasonable asking price. But which teams get involved in the bidding remains to be seen as the year moves forward.

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One team that has shown interest in acquiring him is the Toronto Maple Leafs, who desperately need more help along the blueline. Toronto reportedly showed interest in the veteran last season, but he two sides couldn’t link up on a deal.

Due to Andersson’s ability to both score and set up others for good shot attempts, he could take the Maple Leafs over the top. Toronto has been searching for ways to improve the roster, and Andersson could be one of the better players to land this deadline.

The Maple Leafs could also give him the type of contract that he wants, helping to solidify their lineup for years to come. Andersson would help this team shore up the blueline moving forward, and even with a high asking price, he could be worth it.

Since Toronto continues to fall short in the postseason, there is a lot of pressure on the front office to make some type of splashy move at the deadline. Andersson could ease some of the frustrations from the fanbase, and he would likely fit in well alongside the other talented guys on the roster.

The veteran won’t solve all the problems that the Maple Leafs have, but he could push this team closer to actually contending for a Stanley Cup title. If anything, this is a move that should be considered, especially with how poorly Toronto has started the new season.