Rasmus Andersson

Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames Could Revisit Extension Talks

September 23, 2025 at 5:45 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 6 Comments

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was one of the most talked-about players this past summer due to the persistent trade rumors surrounding him. Andersson was nearly dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights before the trade fell through, and in August Andersson’s teammates openly acknowledged that he was a near-certainty to be traded.

But today, Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN’s Insider Trading that it is not a guarantee that the Flames trade Andersson, rather than sign the pending UFA to a contract extension.

According to LeBrun, neither the Flames nor Andersson “want to totally close the door on maybe having extension talks again at some point this year.” LeBrun’s reporting indicates that it’s the Flames’ preference to see how the early part of their 2025-26 season unfolds before revisiting contract talks. For Andersson’s part, LeBrun reported that the player might be swayed to re-sign in Calgary “if there was an eight-year offer on the table,” but also added that he does not believe the Flames are “ready to go there” at this stage.

LeBrun concluded by saying that a trade remains the most likely outcome regardless of this new development.

This news changes the tone surrounding Andersson in a notable way, as it had previously appeared as though he was as close to a lock to be traded as one can get in the NHL.

But with a high-stakes unrestricted free agency looming, one that represents what is likely to be Andersson’s best chance at a long-term, extremely lucrative contract, it appears Andersson and his camp (led by 4Sports Hockey’s Claude Lemieux) don’t want to completely close the door on a potential bidder for Andersson’s services.

The soon-to-be-29-year-old Swedish blueliner has a very real chance at being the top defenseman available in next summer’s UFA market. Andersson is a true top-pairing right-handed defenseman, something that would make him a rare, highly sought-after player on a free agent market. Andersson averaged 24 minutes of ice time per night in 2024-25, including the most penalty-kill ice time of any Flames player.

Andersson is a highly competitive blueliner who plays with an edge, and he matches his ability to weather difficult defensive assignments with a solid level of offensive ability. He scored a career-high 50 points in 2021-22 and while his scoring numbers have steadily climbed down since that season (49 points in 2022-23, 39 in 2023-24, and 31 in 2024-25) he remains an all-around force and one of head coach Ryan Huska’s most trusted contributors.

The Flames’ alternate captain is the kind of player nearly every NHL team would like to add to its lineup, though his future free agent case is not without its risks. Andersson is set to play out the vast majority of his next contract in his 30s, and while he’s still a capable offensive contributor, his steady decline in production in recent years could give some teams pause. It could be fair to question whether the team that signs Andersson, due to the multiple seasons of 40-plus points on his resume, will ultimately end up paying for a level of production Andersson is no longer able to provide.

Accordingly, despite major factors set to act in Andersson’s favor next summer (such as the rarity of top-pairing right-handed defensemen on the open market) it would be understandable for Andersson to give serious thought to signing an eight-year extension in Calgary during the season should the club offer one.

At this stage, though, such speculation remains premature. As LeBrun reported, even with the revival of the slight prospect that Andersson re-signs in Calgary, the overwhelmingly likely scenario is that he is eventually traded. But until that happens, it appears Flames fans will be able to hold onto hope that their team’s longest-tenured defenseman may yet stay in Calgary.

Photos courtesy of Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Evening Notes: Canadiens Additions, Fedotov, Andersson

September 15, 2025 at 6:00 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 3 Comments

After three straight last-place Atlantic Division finishes and then a trip to the playoffs in 2024-25, it appears the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild may be over. Or, the rebuild has at least reached a critical new stage, one focused more on acquiring NHL-ready talent that fit the club’s core competitive window. The team made two additions that fit that mold this summer, bringing in star defenseman Noah Dobson and promising second-year forward Zachary Bolduc, and it appears the team may not be done. RG Media’s Marco D’Amico reported today that it was “abundantly clear” in the media availabilities of Canadiens hockey operations leaders Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes that the club is intent on adding even more talent to reinforce its roster during the 2025-26 campaign.

D’Amico added that the Canadiens “want to add” and expect the trade market “to pick up mid-season” as teams have more information on whether they’ll be in a position to qualify for the postseason. The Canadiens’ most significant immediate roster need is likely at the center position, specifically in the number-two center role behind captain Nick Suzuki. It was reported today that 2018 third-overall pick Kirby Dach is on track to return for the start of the regular season, but injuries have cost him significant time in each of his three seasons in Montreal, so it is unclear whether he’ll be able to adequately fill the second-line-center role. If he struggles, its possible the Canadiens look to the trade market to add immediate reinforcements to that position, and D’Amico’s reporting today suggests they will.

Some other notes from across the NHL:

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell spoke to the media today in advance of the club’s upcoming training camp, and provided some new details the franchise’s thinking related to their recent acquisition of netminder Ivan Fedotov from the Philadelphia Flyers. Per team reporter Jeff Svoboda, Waddell said “I don’t have nightmares too often, but every nightmare I had this summer was about goaltending (depth). I felt like we needed to address it.” It’s not unreasonable that Waddell would be concerned about the club’s goaltending depth – before the trade, the top goalie they had behind Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves was Zachary Sawchenko, who has just seven career NHL games to his name and none since 2021-22. By adding Fedotov, the Blue Jackets get a player who was once one of the top goalies in the KHL, although he has admittedly struggled thusfar in his career in North America.
Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was one of the most frequently talked-about players in transaction rumors over the course of this past summer, though the defenseman did not ultimately get traded. Today, Andersson addressed the news from the summer, specifically calling reports that he was only willing to sign a long-term deal with the Vegas Golden Knights “fake information.” He added that he would “never handcuff” general manager Craig Conroy in such a fashion. Daniel Austin of The Calgary Sun wrote that “the most likely outcome” of Andersson’s situation (he is a pending UFA) is that the Flames trade the defenseman before the trade deadline, and doing so would likely pave the way for even more ice time for star prospect Zayne Parekh. Parekh is a dynamic offensive defenseman who is set to enter his first NHL campaign, assuming he can earn a job on the club’s season-opening roster.

Flames Notes: Wolf, Andersson, Parekh

September 9, 2025 at 12:43 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 8 Comments

The Flames announced a seven-year, $52.5MM extension for premier young netminder Dustin Wolf this morning ahead of the final season of his entry-level contract. The deal, which carries a cap hit of $7.5MM, will make him among the league’s 10 highest-paid goalies when it takes effect in 2026-27.

Now, PuckPedia has the full breakdown of the contract. The deal will be paid out almost entirely in base salary, with only one up-front $2MM signing bonus in the first year. That will be paired with a $6MM base salary to give him $8MM in total compensation out of the gate. From 2027-28 through 2031-32, he’ll earn an even $7.5MM per year. The difference between his first-year compensation and the $7.5MM average annual value will be made up in the contract’s final year in 2032-33, when he’ll take a small pay cut to $7MM.

Wolf’s deal also includes relatively limited trade protection. He’s not eligible for it until 2028-29, when he’d otherwise be eligible for unrestricted free agency. From that point forward, he’ll have a 10-team no-trade list, but no full movement protection is included in the deal.

There’s more out of Calgary today:

While all parties have acknowledged pending UFA Rasmus Andersson will be traded at some point this season, the defender rebuked claims over the offseason that he was only willing to extend with one team – believed to be the Golden Knights. That would obviously have handcuffed Calgary from moving him elsewhere or even landing market value from Vegas, something Andersson said he’d never do, according to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960.
Top defense prospect Zayne Parekh isn’t fully recovered from the lower-body injury he sustained earlier this summer, general manager Craig Conroy told Steinberg. “The hope is that he’ll be ready for training camp,” Conroy said, indicating he likely won’t participate in any rookie camp activities in the days leading up to full camp beginning at the end of next week. He did skate today, Conroy confirmed, a welcome sign ahead of a pivotal camp that could lead to him carving out a roster spot. The 2024 No. 9 overall pick scored in his NHL debut last year and has led the OHL in scoring among defensemen in back-to-back years, although he’s still ineligible for a full-time assignment to AHL Calgary.

Flames Seem Set To Trade Rasmus Andersson, Per Teammate

August 27, 2025 at 11:50 am CDT | by Gabriel Foley 18 Comments

The trade rumors surrounding Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson are reaching a peak as the 2025-26 season rolls around. Flames centerman Mikael Backlund said that Andersson seems to be clearly headed for a change of teams during the NHL’s European Media Tour, as captured by Micahel Russo of The Athletic. Backlund went into depth on the divide between Calgary and the top-pair defenseman, sharing that the two sides are at ends on what a new contract should look like. Andersson will enter unrestricted-free agency next summer, and is looking for a boost over his current $4.55MM cap hit, while the Flames are looking for a value deal. Backlund told Russo:

Yeah, [Andersson is] getting traded. It’s obvious… I talked to him, too, and he doesn’t want to be a distraction… It’s too bad that it’s come to this. I don’t think that they’re close to getting an agreement, but you never know. Things could change.

Backlund seems among the most informed when it comes to changes within the Calgary organization. He’s spent all 1,066 games, and 17 seasons, of his NHL career in a Flames jersey. The Flames named Backlund team captain in 2023, after five years of serving as an alternate captain. Andersson has also served as an assistant captain as far back as 2022, cementing a clear connection between the two teammates.

Backlund’s comments ring loud as a result. Andersson has appeared to be the odd-man-left ever since general manager Craig Conroy completed a fire sale of trades in 2023 and 2024. The flurry moved out defenders Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and Noah Hanifin – leaving Andersson as the only long-term Flame left on the team’s blue-line. He has since been supported by veteran MacKenzie Weegar and emerging pro Kevin Bahl, playing ahead of an otherwise very fluid Calgary defense.

This news spells even more changes for the Flames’ defense. There will be no preparing for losing a player of Andersson’s caliber, even despite rumors swirling through the last few seasons. He has emerged as a true top-pair offensive-defenseman, capable of driving play and sustaining offensive chances for his side, even amid poor defensive play. Andersson tied his career-high of 11 goals this past season, to go along with 31 points on the full year. It was a slight dip from his scoring totals over the last few year. He previously scored 50 points in the 2021-22 season, 49 points in 2022-23, and 39 points in 2023-24.

These comments will once again spark what’s been an aggressive trade market for Andersson. Calgary has fielded interest from across the NHL, with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes previously emerging as front-runners. There has also been rumors of a fit with Pacific Division clubs like the Los Angeles Kings or Vegas Golden Knights, should the Flames be comfortable with moving Andersson to a nearby foe. Vegas will notably be without top defender Alex Pietrangelo next season due to injury, creating a clear hole in their lineup. The Golden Knights would need to find roughly $1MM in cap space to afford Andersson’s cap hit, assuming Calgary would be willing to retain a maximum 50-percent.

No Recent Talks Between Flames And Rasmus Andersson

August 9, 2025 at 2:58 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

The future of defenseman Rasmus Andersson with the Flames has been a subject of much debate this offseason. While Calgary isn’t looking to rebuild and thus doesn’t necessarily want to move him, Andersson doesn’t appear to be ready to sign a long-term extension with them either, fueling trade speculation.

Earlier this summer, TSN’s Darren Dreger suggested that Los Angeles had a deal in place to acquire Andersson but that the blueliner indicated that he didn’t want to play there. Speaking with Expressen’s David Carlsson and Mikael Ljungberg, the 28-year-old acknowledged he had been approached about a move somewhere but declined to confirm that it was indeed the Kings. But he wasn’t comfortable about moving his family and signing a long-term deal right away, scuttling those talks. Andersson also continues to vehemently deny earlier reports that the only team he’d sign with right away is Vegas.

With trade talks seemingly at a stalemate for now, it would be logical to think that the two sides might resume contract discussions. However, Andersson noted that since the draft-day trade fell apart, there has been zero communication with the team.

Andersson has been an all-situations player for the last several years in Calgary while reaching at least 30 points in each of the last four campaigns. That has him in line to land a sizable raise on his current $4.55MM AAV, even though he’s coming off a quieter year offensively where he has 10 goals and 21 assists in 81 games while averaging 23:59 per night of playing time. Even with the reduced point total, AFP Analytics pegged an Andersson extension to cost around $8.4MM per season on a seven-year deal.

While it’s believed there were at least initial discussions about a new deal this offseason, the belief is that there’s still a big gap to bridge and clearly, neither side appears to be in a rush to try to reduce the difference. GM Craig Conroy has stated multiple times that he’s comfortable with Andersson coming to camp without an extension in place and based on the lack of contact between the two sides, that appears to be the likeliest outcome as things stand.

Latest On Rasmus Andersson

July 1, 2025 at 8:22 am CDT | by Brian La Rose 1 Comment

Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is eligible to sign a contract extension as of today but talks between him and the team showed that there is still a considerable bridge to gap. While GM Craig Conroy has said they’re comfortable with having the blueliner in training camp without a new deal in place, the gap in discussions has certainly fueled trade speculation.

To that end, TSN’s Darren Dreger recently reported on Edmonton Sports Talk (video link) that the Kings were believed to have a trade in place to acquire the 28-year-old but Andersson made it known that he doesn’t want to play for them. He only has a six-team no-trade list but presumably, Los Angeles would have found out about Andersson’s lack of desire to play there when hypothetically discussing what an extension would look like.

At the moment, it appears that Andersson has his eyes set on one trade destination in particular. Pierre LeBrun reports in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link) that the team on the top of Andersson’s wish list is the Golden Knights. He adds that there have been discussions between the two teams over the past week but Calgary hasn’t been excited about the offers on the table just yet.

There’s a logical fit for Andersson in Vegas, with Alex Pietrangelo’s playing days appearing to be over now. Pietrangelo’s absence would open up a significant hole on the right side of their back end, one that Andersson would be capable of filling.

The 28-year-old has been an all-situations player for several years in Calgary and has reached at least 30 points in four straight years. Andersson is coming off a quieter year but he still managed 10 goals and 21 assists in 81 games for Calgary last season while logging 23:59 per night of playing time. While he wouldn’t be quite as impactful as a healthy Pietrangelo, he would certainly be a quality replacement.

Of course, fitting him onto the books for the upcoming season is a whole other challenge. Vegas used the LTIR relief from Pietrangelo to acquire Mitch Marner from Toronto. Even with the LTIR savings, that will put them over the cap by the time they fill the remaining open roster spots, meaning that some salary would need to be cleared to open up room for Andersson and his $4.55MM cap charge for next season.

Meanwhile, should Andersson get moved to his preferred team, it stands to reason that an extension would need to be worked out. Given the contracts that have been handed out to some blueliners in recent days, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could come close to doubling his current price tag on a long-term contract.

With Vegas taking on Marner at $12MM per season and Jack Eichel expected to receive an extension at some point as well, that’s a lot of money to be adding to their future books so if the Golden Knights are able to land Andersson, they’re going to have to clear up some significant cap room – both present and future – to do so.

Pacific Notes: Andersson, Granlund, Seabrook, Juulsen, Chovan

June 30, 2025 at 8:30 pm CDT | by Brennan McClain Leave a Comment

A few days ago, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned that the Vegas Golden Knights had attempted to acquire Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson last week. No deal came to fruition, and TSN’s Darren Dreger doesn’t believe that the Golden Knights were the only intra-divisional opponent to try to poach Andersson from Alberta.

Speaking on The Nielson Show, Dreger indicated that the Los Angeles Kings put together a formidable offer for Andersson at the 2025 NHL Draft. Dreger believes that the offer was compelling enough for the Flames that they brought it up to Andersson, but the nine-year veteran had no interest in playing for Los Angeles.

After being previously connected to Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram and now Andersson, it appears the Kings are under the impression that Vladislav Gavrikov won’t be back with the organization next summer. At any rate, General Manager Ken Holland is being aggressive in pursuing a replacement top-four defenseman in any way that he can.

Other notes from the Pacific Division:

Being one of several teams looking to add a second-line center from a thin pool tomorrow, the Vancouver Canucks have been connected to one of the top available options remaining in the free agent class. David Pagnotta from The Fourth Period reports that the Canucks are expected to aggressively pursue Mikael Granlund if he becomes available in free agency tomorrow. Pagnotta noted that Granlund is seeking a new contract with the Dallas Stars; however, it will be nearly impossible due to their limited salary cap space.
Back in Calgary, the Flames have added a three-time Stanley Cup champion to their player development staff. Earlier today, the Flames announced that they’ve hired Brent Seabrook as a player development coach. Despite having no prior affiliation with the Flames organization, he has been serving as a development coach for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants since retiring from his playing career.
Unsurprisingly, Rick Dhaliwal of The Athletic reported that the Canucks aren’t expected to re-sign defenseman Noah Juulsen before he becomes an unrestricted free agent tomorrow afternoon. Coming off of arguably the worst season of his NHL career, Juulsen went completely scoreless in 35 games with Vancouver this past season, with a -12 rating before having his season cut short due to injury.
According to Ben Leeson of the Sudbury Star, Kings’ draft pick Jan Chovan has signed with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves to continue his development. The Bratislava, Slovakia native was selected 184th overall in last week’s draft. The Wolves selected Chovan in the first round of the 2024 OHL Import Draft, and he’s coming off a year with the U20 SM-sarja’s Tappara, scoring 11 goals and 23 points in 39 games with a +7 rating.

Blue Jackets, Hurricanes Interested In Rasmus Andersson

June 23, 2025 at 2:56 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 2 Comments

The Blue Jackets and Hurricanes are among the teams calling the Flames to have trade talks surrounding defenseman Rasmus Andersson, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports. Pagnotta mentioned the Senators as well – it’s not the first time in the past few months they’ve been tied to Andersson – but Ottawa is also reportedly on his six-team no-trade list.

Calgary and Andersson have already begun preliminary talks on an extension. He’s entering the final year of his contract at a highly team-friendly $4.55MM cap hit and becomes eligible to sign a new deal on July 1 to keep him in Calgary past 2025-26. However, those talks haven’t been particularly productive in their initial stages, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff last week. As a result, they’re listening to trade interest, but as has been the case for a while now, they’re in no particular rush to move him and could wait until next season’s trade deadline to get the value they want if they’re no closer to an extension.

That means defense-needy teams, particularly those looking for added puck-moving depth, will have Calgary general manager Craig Conroy on speed dial until Andersson’s situation is resolved. Carolina and Columbus fit that bill, with Andersson’s cheap initial cap hit before a potential extension kicks in still providing both clubs a fair amount of flexibility to pursue other avenues of roster improvement this summer.

The Hurricanes’ defensive depth will have a few notable changes next season, regardless of whether they successfully land Andersson or not. They’re not offering pending UFA Dmitry Orlov a new contract, and it remains to be seen if veteran Brent Burns, a top-pairing staple alongside Jaccob Slavin in recent seasons, will be back with the club. If he is, it’ll presumably be in a reduced role after a tough 2024-25 campaign for the 40-year-old. Rookie Alexander Nikishin has likely been penciled in as Orlov’s replacement on the left side with Slavin and Shayne Gostisbehere after looking good in limited postseason action, but rookie righty Scott Morrow is a less surefire insurance option for Burns, at least out of the gate. If they’re not yet ready to entrust the 22-year-old with regular NHL minutes, it would make sense to pursue Andersson.

Unlike the Blue Jackets, the Hurricanes might be willing to make a deal without a guarantee of an extension, particularly if it’s done this summer. They have Morrow coming eventually, even if it’s not next season, and are still firmly entrenched in win-now mode.

Columbus’ interest similarly stems from the unknown future of a pending UFA. While things appear close on a deal for top-pairing righty Dante Fabbro, the same can’t be said for lefty Ivan Provorov, who might be forced over to his off-side if he stays anyway with up-and-comer Denton Mateychuk positioning himself for top-four minutes in the near future. Andersson, a legitimate needle-mover, would give the Blue Jackets a highly intriguing right side with Fabbro and Damon Severson in the mix as well while coming in at a much cheaper cost than a new deal for Provorov would require, at least initially.

Regardless, it might behoove the Flames to wait until the season starts to see if Andersson can bump his value. He’s coming off his worst offensive campaign in four years, although he did still produce 31 points in 81 games while averaging 24 minutes per night. His -38 rating paired with career-worst possession impacts doesn’t do much to help his case either, although a few teams could have confidence in that showing being an outlier from the 28-year-old.

Flames Notes: Vladar, Andersson, Sutter

June 20, 2025 at 8:01 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 1 Comment

Goaltender Daniel Vladar is arguably the most prominent pending unrestricted free agent that the Flames have and while Vladar said after the season that he’d like to re-sign, no deal is in place two months later. Speaking with Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson, GM Craig Conroy noted that the two sides are still in discussions and are “continuing to plug away” at his file. The 27-year-old started the season platooning with Dustin Wolf before the latter took over as the undisputed starter in the second half. Vladar bounced back from a tough 2023-24 season, posting a 2.80 GAA and a .898 SV% in 30 outings this season. At this point, he’s likely hoping for a raise from the $2.2MM he made over the last two seasons, especially since he projects to be one of the better options in what is a relatively thin free agent market for goaltenders this summer.

Snapshots: Islanders, Andersson, Hrabal, Jedlicka

June 11, 2025 at 8:31 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

With the Islanders missing the playoffs this season, some wondered if new GM Mathieu Darche might look to make a big shakeup on the trade front. If he does, their two top forwards won’t be involved. In his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link), Pierre LeBrun relays that Darche has told forwards Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal that they will not be moved this summer. Horvat would have been an intriguing name on the center market while Barzal, who has been more of a winger lately but is a natural middleman himself, also would have drawn a lot of interest but instead, they’ll remain the focal points of a New York group that Darche feels can get back into the playoff mix next season.

Elsewhere around the hockey world:

Extension talks between the Flames and defenseman Rasmus Andersson are expected to continue this week with the two sides exchanging numbers for the first time, reports Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli. Andersson is eligible to sign a new deal as of July 1st and it’s one that should carry a significant increase on his current $4.55MM price tag. While he’s coming off a bit of a down year, he still managed 31 points in 81 games and as a right-shot rearguard who plays in all situations, he’ll be highly sought after should he hit the open market in 2026.
The Mammoth tried to sign goaltender Michael Hrabal after this season, his college head coach Greg Carvel stated in a recent Sick Podcast appearance (video link). The 20-year-old was the 38th overall pick back in 2023 and has spent the past two seasons at the University of Massachusetts. Hrabal posted a 2.37 GAA with a .924 SV% in 36 games for the Minutemen which seemingly was enough for Utah to want to turn him pro. Instead, Hrabal has decided to return for his junior year and seems like a strong candidate to sign after that.
While the Avalanche relinquished the rights to prospect Maros Jedlicka on June 1st, he’ll be remaining with the organization for now. Colorado’s AHL affiliate announced that they’ve signed the forward to a one-year contract for next season. Jedlicka started this year playing at home in Czechia, collecting two assists in a dozen games for HC Kometa Brno before coming to North America in mid-November. Jedlicka played in 18 games for the Eagles this season, picking up three goals and two assists and while that wasn’t enough to earn an NHL contract, it was enough for the Avs to keep him around in their system at least.

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