Rasmus Andersson wants to remain a member of the Calgary Flames beyond this season in no uncertain terms. Andersson reiterated his desire to stay with the Flames organization in a recent interview with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis and his displeasure for some specific teams in the Pacific Division.
Francis quoted Andersson saying, “I love playing here and I’ve always loved playing here and that’s never going to change. Of course I would love to stay here, but I’ve heard from everyone else who has been in my situation that it’s a business.” Furthermore, his passion and loyalty toward the Flames organization has turned into distaste for other organizations with Andersson saying, “I hate the Oilers, I hate the Canucks and that’s just the way I am.”
Given his age, contract term, and recent production, Andersson entered the season as arguably the best trade chip at Calgary’s disposal. Many preseason expectations had the Flames finishing at or near the Western Conference basement after moving on from Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Jacob Markström, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov during the 2023-24 season and this past offseason.
Calgary didn’t get the memo as they hold a 19-14-7 record through the first half of 2024-25 and sit one point back of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Flames don’t have the league’s best offense, defense, or goaltending but are controlling scoring chances more times than not leading to their surprising record.
It would be surprising if there wasn’t mutual interest in retaining Andersson. He’s been one of the more underrated two-way defensemen in the league from 2022-2025 scoring 30 goals and 156 points in 279 games for the Flames while holding a career 51.7 CorsiFor% at even strength and +43.5 expected +/-.
Defensemen like Andersson don’t grow on trees, especially as a right-handed shot. He’ll earn a more than affordable $4.55MM salary for the next two years before being eligible for a new contract on July 1st, 2026.
It’s a precarious situation for the Flames. On one hand, they won’t have a trade candidate with as much value as Andersson for quite some time. On the other hand, the loyalty he holds toward the organization plus his on-ice production is something Calgary should want in the roster for the foreseeable future. A resolution of some sort will be decided on soon in the form of an Andersson extension on July 1st or his wearing of another team’s jersey by the end of this season.
Guy wants to stay in Calgary you do what you can to keep guy in Calgary.
I doubt the Flames sell off at the deadline, with the exception being Vlader. It’d be a mistake, but they may even be buyers.
Who would they sell even if they weren’t in a playoff hunt? Dont see them moving Kadri,Weeger, Andersson(still has a year after this), Backlund, Sharingovich or Coleman which are all signed long term their not moving off youngsters Wolf, Cornato Bahl or Zary. So that leaves Huby who would be very hard to move despite his solid year, Kuzy who’s god awful this year and Vladar who isn’t getting you anything other than a mid draft pick. kadri makes the most sense to move to me but I feel any of the big teams looking to get him would want salary retained which if I’m the flames I’m not doing
Need more hatred among players these days with rivals. I feel like that’s diminished over the past decade or so.
Trade Andersson and its a full rebuild . Not going anywhere without him , so might as well sell everything you can off. Probably many of the players that are their would welcome the move if he is traded
The record says the Flames don’t need to do a full rebuild.