Rasmus Andersson Lands in Vegas - Now Comes the Next Step
The Vegas Golden Knights made a bold move this week, acquiring defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames in a significant trade that could reshape their blue line for years to come. In return, Calgary received defenseman Zach Whitecloud, a first-round pick, a conditional second-rounder that could escalate to a first, and prospect Abram Wiebe.
It’s the second time these two franchises have linked up on a deal involving a top-four defenseman. The last one?
That was Noah Hanifin, who also made his way from Calgary to Vegas - and also without an extension in place. The Golden Knights are clearly comfortable playing the long game when it comes to locking up talent, and once again, they’re betting on their culture and competitiveness to do the convincing.
Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon appeared on NHL Morning Skate this week and addressed the elephant in the room: Andersson hasn’t signed an extension yet. But McCrimmon didn’t sound concerned.
“One of the things that gave us an advantage,” McCrimmon said, “was that we were comfortable doing it without an extension. We did similarly with Noah Hanifin, where we were able to get him under contract.”
That’s not just lip service. Hanifin ended up signing on the dotted line after a brief stint in Vegas, and now the front office is hoping Andersson follows a similar path. According to McCrimmon, the franchise is banking not just on the glitz of Vegas or its state-of-the-art facilities, but on something players value just as much - the chance to win.
“Players want to win,” McCrimmon emphasized. “They want to be in an organization where there’s commitment to doing that. And we certainly have been able to do that our entire existence.”
Andersson, who reportedly had a strong preference for Vegas, seems like a natural fit in a system that values smart puck movers and steady defensive play. He’s a right-shot defenseman in his prime, capable of logging big minutes and contributing at both ends of the ice. For a team with Stanley Cup aspirations every year, he’s the kind of addition that can move the needle.
There’s also some context here that’s worth remembering: Andersson’s agent, Claude Lemieux, is known for being strategic in negotiations. That doesn’t mean a deal won’t happen - it just means it might take time.
In Hanifin’s case, it took 35 days from trade to extension. So the clock isn’t ticking too loudly just yet.
The bigger question is what the final number will look like. Andersson was reportedly offered a seven-year, $63 million deal by the Bruins - a $9 million AAV - before the trade. Vegas might not go quite that high, with expectations hovering more in the $7 to $8 million range annually, depending on term.
Still, the expectation around the league is that a deal will get done. Andersson wants to be in Vegas.
Vegas wants him there long term. And the Golden Knights have a recent track record of making these post-trade extensions work.
For Calgary, this is a clear signal that they’re leaning into a retool. Whitecloud gives them a reliable NHL-ready defenseman, and the draft capital adds flexibility for the future. But the spotlight right now is firmly on Vegas - and on whether they can close the deal with a player who could be a foundational piece of their back end for years to come.
The trade is done. Now it’s about sealing the future.