Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames defenseman
While pending unrestricted free agent Rasmus Andersson’s future remains up in the air in Calgary, he is still one of the top trade candidates in the NHL. And while certain teams have been mentioned as likely landing spots, we’re getting a little more clarity on where he’d be willing to sign an extension. 

And while the d-man only has a six-team no-trade list, giving him limited say in the matter, where he does have a say, is where he’d be open to extending. Insider Frank Seravalli explained on Frankly Hockey on Victory+:

Count on all the traditional, no tax states that have a chance to win (to be in on Andersson). Those are the desired destinations. And not a surprise to anyone, those are the teams that are generally in the mix. 

If that’s the case, that leaves a list of six teams that would have the best shot at re-signing (and hence, trading for) Andersson: The Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights. 

A couple of those teams don’t fit the mold of a team ready to win that Andersson also desires, so we can scratch Nashville and Seattle off that list. We’ve heard the Golden Knights mentioned often as a favorite potential landing spot for the Flames’ veteran. But Seravalli posits that the Stars will be very much in the running as well. 

Dallas Stars are one of the no-tax state teams interested in Andersson

“I can confirm that the Stars are one team that definitely has interest in Rasmus Andersson on the blueline.” And they’ll certainly have room under the cap once they place Tyler Seguin on SE-LTIR (season-ending long-term injured reserve). 

We heard recently from insider Pierre LeBrun that the Toronto Maple Leafs actually would be one team that the Flames’ d-man would be willing to re-sign with long-term. That doesn’t fit the no-tax state theory; in fact, there aren’t many places where the taxes are worse than Toronto. But we know that Leafs’ GM Brad Treliving is the man who signed Andersson to his current six-year deal, so there’s a history there, potentially putting them in the mix. 

For now, the Flames aren’t making any decisions on what to do with Andersson (and their other trade pieces), which has been somewhat frustrating for the blueliner, as he admitted recently.  

Photo: © James Guillory-Imagn Images