Andersson trade seems inevitable and here's what Calgary Flames could get for him

Rasmus Andersson spoke like a player who’s well aware that his days with the Calgary Flames may be limited.

The 28-year-old, who has just one season remaining on his contract, spoke with media on the Flames’ locker room clean-out day on Saturday. Though Andersson remained adamant that he would like to stay in Calgary, he was very careful with his phrasing throughout a series of questions.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, honestly. I have to sit down with my family, [Craig Conroy], and all those guys upstairs. We’ve got to sit down and talk what’s best for the team. I wish I could say, ‘Hey, I’m signing July 1,’ but I can’t at the moment… I hope the fans know that I’ve loved every second of it and I’ve never taken it for granted. I hope I’m here for many years to come.”

Throughout the 2024-25 season, the reports from several insiders were that the Flames had no intention of trading Andersson before the deadline, instead hoping to re-sign him to a long-term extension. While they held onto him, management’s thoughts on a lengthy extension may have changed.

Andersson really struggled throughout the entirety of the season, finishing with a plus/minus rating of – 38, which ranked third worst amongst all NHLers. To his defence, he played the final weeks of the season on a broken fibula, though he struggled well before that injury.

What also makes extending Andersson a concern is the fact that the Flames, despite being a competitive team this season, still have a ways to go in their rebuilding effort before becoming a Stanley Cup contender. He will be 29 in October and may not fit into their long-term plans from an age perspective.

There’s also the fact that the Flames have several intriguing right-shot prospects on the back end. Fans got a sneak peek of Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz in the regular season finale, both of whom have a bright future with the organization. Another is Henry Mews, who could be pushing for full-time NHL action in just a few years.

Extending Andersson could block one of those players mentioned from not only cracking the Flames lineup in the years to come, but playing the valuable minutes they’ll need to help their development.

Now, if Andersson were willing to take a major hometown discount, that could change things. That said, this is likely the final time in his career to hit it big from a contract perspective, and it doesn’t make sense for the Flames to be the team to give him that deal.

Flames can get a haul

Whether it be at the draft or even perhaps into the 2025-26 season, the Flames would be better moving on from Andersson and obtaining as many assets as they can for him.

Despite his down season, Andersson still has plenty of value as he’s well-established as a top-four NHL defenceman. He is steady in his own zone, and has hit the 50-point mark twice in his career. On top of that, the final season of his contract carries a cap hit of just $4.55 million.

At the very least, the Flames should be looking to get a first-round pick for Andersson, and would probably be able to fetch a good prospect as well. Ideally, that prospect would be a centreman as they are lacking in that position, though they could use that first-round pick to select a centre as well.

Having the extra season remaining on Andersson’s deal means that GM Craig Conroy can afford to be patient, though it’s become increasingly evident that the organization would be better off trading the Swedish blueliner rather than signing him to a long-term deal.

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