Last weekend, the Boston Bruins were deep in the mix for a major blue-line upgrade. All eyes were on Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, with reports swirling that the Bruins were making a serious push to bring him to Boston.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman had the rumor mill buzzing - but when the dust settled, Andersson wasn’t headed to TD Garden. Instead, he was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights.
So, what happened?
From all accounts, Bruins GM Don Sweeney explored the possibility of not just trading for Andersson, but locking him into a contract extension as part of the deal. That’s the kind of forward-thinking move you’d expect from a team trying to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term stability. But the two sides couldn’t come to terms, and Vegas swooped in - acquiring Andersson without an extension in place, betting they can work something out before free agency opens on July 1.
That’s a bold move by the Golden Knights, who clearly see Andersson as a key piece in their push for another deep playoff run. And it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. Less than 24 hours after the Flames dropped a 4-3 game to the Bruins at TD Garden - a game Andersson wasn’t in the lineup for - he suited up for Vegas in a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After the game in Toronto, Andersson spoke to the media and offered some insight that, frankly, made it clear he was never going to be a Bruin.
“I've had a great time in Calgary, I've loved every second of it,” Andersson said. “I can't say good enough things about that organization.
But at the same time I think it was time for them and it was time for me to try something different. ... This is a real contender.”
That last part - “This is a real contender” - speaks volumes. It’s not a knock on Boston, but it’s an honest reflection of where the Bruins are right now.
They’re in a transition phase, trying to navigate the post-Bergeron era while keeping the competitive window cracked open. And while they’ve been gritty and resilient this season, they’re not quite in that top-tier contender category - not in the way Vegas is.
Could the Bruins be back in that conversation in a year or two? Absolutely. But they’re still in the middle of a retool, and a blockbuster trade for Andersson - especially at the rumored asking price - might have done more harm than good in the long run.
Sweeney had a tough call to make. Pay a steep price for a player who might not stick around past the season?
Or hold firm, keep the Bruins’ long-term flexibility intact, and pass on a deal that could’ve backfired? In the end, he chose the latter, and given Andersson’s comments and the lack of an extension, it’s hard to argue with that decision.
Vegas gets their man - a top-four defenseman with offensive upside and playoff experience - and Boston lives to fight another day with its assets intact. The Bruins may not have landed the splashy name this time, but they’re playing the long game. And in today’s NHL, that kind of discipline matters just as much as deadline fireworks.