Andersson's trade value increasing for Calgary Flames but not for the reason you'd think
If the Calgary Flames opt to trade Rasmus Andersson, they could wind up receiving an even bigger package than initially expected.
Andersson, who is in the final season of a six-year contract, has been subjected to trade speculation dating as far back as the 2024-25 campaign. With the Flames years away from being a Stanley Cup contender, moving the 29-year-old for future pieces would help speed up their rebuilding timeline.
The concern over trading Andersson throughout the summer was that he was coming off a disappointing 2024-25 season, one in which he ended with a plus/minus of -38. The hope was that he would bounce back in 2025-26, and he’s done just that.
Andersson has been the Flames’ best skater this season, averaging a team-high 24:10 in ice time through 30 games. Even better, he sits second in team scoring with 20 points, six of which are goals. That said, it’s not just his performance that improves his trade value.
While some intriguing names are set to become UFAs this coming offseason, there aren’t a ton of high-quality defencemen. Two of the better ones set to be available, Mike Matheson and Ryan McDonagh, recently re-signed with the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively.
John Carlson is one of the few big names still set to be available, though the expectation is that he and the Washington Capitals will work out an extension before he winds up on the free-agent market.
Should Carlson re-sign, Andersson would undoubtedly be the best defenceman up for grabs. Any team wanting him is well aware that their best chance of offering up a long-term deal would come by making a trade for him, which is the perfect scenario for GM Craig Conroy and the Flames.
What exactly the Flames would be looking for remains to be seen. Landing a young player down the middle of the ice remains a priority, albeit slightly less so after drafting both Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter in the first round of the 2025 draft.
Regardless of what position management may feel they need to address, Andersson figures, at the very least, to land a top prospect and a first-round pick. With the way he’s playing and so few others on the back end expected to be available, the return could wind up being even larger.
Of course, there is still the possibility that the Flames could opt for an extension, as both parties have remained open to the idea publicly. That said, with where this organization stands, a trade continues to feel like the most likely scenario, and, should that happen, the return figures to be one that fans will be very excited about.
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