The Ottawa Senators are attempting to swing for the fences, but they might be stepping up to the plate without a bat. According to the latest reports from Bruce Garrioch, Senators GM Steve Staios has circled back to the Calgary Flames to inquire about top-pairing defenseman Rasmus Andersson. It’s the aggressive move fans have been begging for—a legitimate right-shot stabilizer to anchor the blue line.
However, the excitement needs to be tempered with cold, hard math. While the interest is real, the pathway to a deal is littered with obstacles that make this trade virtually impossible to execute. Staios wants the player, but he lacks the currency to buy him. With Calgary GM Craig Conroy setting an astronomical price tag and Ottawa hamstrung by previous punishments, this rumor feels more like wishful thinking than an imminent blockbuster.
The “Untouchable” Problem and the Missing Pick
The friction in this potential deal comes down to two specific assets: Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler.
Garrioch reports that while teams are consistently asking about these two blue-chip prospects, Staios has made it clear he has “zero interest” in moving them. This is the prudent move for the long-term health of the franchise, but it kills the conversation with Calgary.
The Flames hold all the leverage here. Conroy isn’t looking to dump Andersson for salary relief; he is looking for a haul. The current market price for a top-four, right-shot defenseman with term (or extension rights) is generally set at two first-round picks or one first-round pick plus a Grade-A prospect.
This is where the ghost of the voided Evgenii Dadonov trade haunts Ottawa. The Senators are set to forfeit their 2026 first-round pick as punishment for that debacle. That pick would have been the centerpiece of any package for Andersson. Without it, and with Staios refusing to part with Yakemchuk or Hensler to compensate for the lack of draft capital, Ottawa simply cannot match the offers coming from teams like Dallas or Vegas.
My Take: You have to admire the aggression from Staios, but you also have to be realistic. You cannot acquire a premium asset like Rasmus Andersson with “B” level prospects and second-round picks. If the Senators aren’t willing to endure the pain of losing a Yakemchuk, they aren’t getting Andersson. It is that simple. The Flames have no incentive to accept a quantity-over-quality package when other contenders are waving 2026 first-rounders in their faces. Unless a third team gets involved or the price drops dramatically—which it won’t—this is a dead end.
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