The writing has been on the wall for months, but the noise surrounding a Rasmus Andersson trade just got significantly louder. According to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, the Calgary Flames are finally reaching the breaking point where moving their 29-year-old workhorse defenseman makes more sense than keeping him.
Here is the reality: Andersson is a legitimate top-pairing, right-shot defenseman—the rarest commodity in the NHL market. With the Flames firmly entrenched in a rebuild and Andersson approaching Unrestricted Free Agency (UFA) in July, General Manager Craig Conroy has a massive decision to make. Two teams, the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, have already emerged as serious suitors. If you are a Flames fan, you need to prepare yourself: the return on this deal could reshape the franchise for the next decade.
Why Trading Rasmus Andersson is the Only Move for Calgary
Let’s look at this from an asset management perspective. I have watched Conroy navigate this rebuild with patience, but holding onto Andersson past the deadline is a gamble the Flames cannot afford to take. Andersson is currently playing major minutes, bringing grit, and quarterbacking the play. However, he is 29. By the time Calgary is truly ready to contend for a Stanley Cup again, Andersson will be well into his 30s and likely past his prime.
Francis reports that the asking price is steep: a first-round draft pick and a top prospect who is already NHL-ready. Is that too much? Absolutely not. In today’s NHL, a cost-controlled, minute-munching right-handed defenseman is worth his weight in gold. If Andersson agrees to a sign-and-trade extension, Conroy holds all the cards and can arguably demand even more.
The Suitors: Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators
The market is taking shape, and the fit for both rumored teams is fascinating.
The Detroit Red Wings make the most sense on paper. Steve Yzerman is under immense pressure to get that team over the hump. Their blue line has struggled to move the puck efficiently, and Andersson brings exactly the kind of snarl and skill Detroit lacks. If Andersson is willing to sign an extension there, I can see Yzerman parting with a significant package to make them a legit playoff contender and secure their future defense.
Then you have the Ottawa Senators. They have the young core, but they often look lost in their own end. Adding a veteran like Andersson stabilizes that group instantly. However, Ottawa has to be careful about spending assets if they aren’t guaranteed an extension.
While the Vegas Golden Knights are always lurking in the shadows of every big trade, I don’t see them having the high-end prospect capital to outbid Detroit or Ottawa in this specific scenario.
My Expert Insight
In my opinion, this trade happens sooner rather than later. Rasmus Andersson is a competitor; he doesn’t want to oversee a rebuild, he wants to win. The Flames maximize his value by trading him now, or at the latest, the trade deadline. If Conroy can snag a 2026 1st rounder and a “Grade A” prospect, he has to pull the trigger. It hurts to lose a fan favorite, but it’s the move that accelerates the rebuild by two years.
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The post Is This the End for Rasmus Andersson in Calgary? 2 Teams Circle appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
