Rasmus Andersson Drawing Heavy Trade Interest as Flames Face Crucial Stretch
Rasmus Andersson has been the subject of trade chatter for a while now, but it’s starting to feel like the noise might finally turn into action. With the NHL Trade Deadline less than two months away, the Calgary Flames defenseman is drawing serious interest from multiple contenders - and for good reason.
Andersson is in the final year of a six-year, $27.3 million deal he signed back in January 2020, and his name has been circling the rumor mill for most of the past year. Now, with the holiday roster freeze lifted, league sources say the trade talk is heating up again - and fast. Calgary GM Craig Conroy is reportedly fielding a growing number of calls on the 29-year-old blueliner.
Teams like the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings are among those believed to be in the mix. Andersson does hold a six-team no-trade clause, which gives him some control over where he could land, but his skill set and cap-friendly contract make him one of the most attractive names on the market.
The Los Angeles Kings reportedly made a push for Andersson last summer, but the deal never materialized after he declined to sign an extension with the club. Even so, don’t be surprised if LA circles back before the March 6 deadline. Vegas is also expected to stay in the mix, despite Andersson publicly denying previous reports that he preferred a move to the Golden Knights.
While Calgary made a strong push in December - winning nine of 13 games - the new year has been less kind. The Flames have dropped five of their first six games in January, all in regulation, and currently sit at 19-23-4, second-to-last in the Pacific Division. Only the Vancouver Canucks have a worse record in the West.
That recent slide may have nudged Flames management toward a re-tool, if not a full reset. And if that’s the case, Andersson could be the first major domino to fall.
Still, it’s worth noting that Andersson has been one of the few bright spots on the roster this season. He’s been anchoring Calgary’s top power-play unit and has already tallied 10 goals and 29 points through 46 games.
That production - combined with a manageable $4.55 million cap hit - makes him a top-tier trade chip. In fact, he currently sits at No. 1 on The Fourth Period’s Trade Watch List.
But Andersson isn’t the only Flame drawing attention. Forwards Blake Coleman, Nazem Kadri, and Ryan Lomberg are also generating interest from around the league. While there's no guarantee any of them get moved, both Coleman and Kadri could bring back significant value if the Flames decide to go all-in on reshaping the roster.
Calgary’s current five-game road trip wraps up Thursday night in Chicago, where they’ll face the Blackhawks. After that, they head back to the Saddledome for a five-game homestand, starting Saturday against the New York Islanders - a stretch that could go a long way in determining the team’s direction as the trade deadline looms.
If the Flames continue to slide, don’t be surprised if Andersson - and possibly others - are wearing different sweaters come March.