Look. Trading Rasmus Andersson is not something the Calgary Flames will even begin to entertain in the near future. Maybe not even far future. But—a big but here—I think it’s an interesting option to weigh out as this team hopefully moves forward with a new direction.
Nothing should be off the table for this Flames team in a constant tread of mediocrity. Guys like Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Chris Tanev are front and centre given their contract end dates, but there should be far more change beyond that. If this team decides to go into a re-tool or rebuild, a guy like Rasmus Andersson could make sense to move.
Put the pitchforks away—again, the Flames aren’t doing this. Not with the current ownership and management group. Still, let’s look at how a trade like this pushes the team into a true rebuild and not a one-foot-in, one-foot-out rebuild.
The benefits of trading Andersson
The most obvious would be Andersson’s contract and age. His value will never be higher than it is right now. Andersson is a 27-year-old defenceman signed for two more seasons after this one. His average annual value (AAV) of $4.55M is very palatable for most teams. Right-shot defencemen are always desired by teams. Their market value also aligns with said desire.
From a Flames perspective, I think we all can admit that this team isn’t winning a Stanley Cup in the next few years; their closest path to the Cup currently consists of being an annual wild card team.
As mentioned, Andersson has two more years remaining after this one and then he is an unrestricted free agent. Andersson will be a few months away from turning 30 years old when his new contract kicks in. Does it really make sense for a Flames team to hold onto Andersson for his current contract, and then give him another long-term extension through his 30s? I certainly don’t think this team needs an ymore long-term contracts for aging players given their direction.
The return you would get back would be massive. As mentioned, a team will overpay in order to acquire a great right shot defenceman on a good value deal. That return could look like draft picks, young NHL players, or likely a mixture of both. Either way, those pieces could potentially help this team years down the line.
I think it is also worth noting that Andersson has a six-team no-trade list that kicks in beginning on July 1, 2024. That’s still a lot of teams that Andersson can be traded to, but it does get rid of a few potential bidders.
Why keeping Andersson could make sense
Andersson is a big part of this Flames team. He was in discussion to be the next captain of the Flames when it seemed like Backlund was on the outs this summer. He’s an elite chirper and has gained the love of the fanbase. Elite defencemen are very hard to come by. Especially those that shoot right.
If the Flames move on from both Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev this season, the blueline will take a massive hit. You have MacKenzie Weegar under contract for seven more seasons after this one, then Andersson, and after that really no one else. I would argue that it is ideal to go down a rebuild route, but given this ownership group, it will likely be a re-tool. Because of this, keeping Andersson in the fold gives the team a better shot at competing in a few years than if he gets dealt.
Detroit moving Filip Hronek last year is a comparable
I think of this situation kind of similar to the Detroit Red Wings moving Filip Hronek last year. Hronek is a good defenceman, but he didn’t fit Detroit’s window. At the time of the trade, Hronek was 25 years old and signed through 2023–24 at an AAV of $4.4M. The Red Wings moved Hronek, along with a 2023 fourth-rounder, in exchange for a 2023 first-rounder and 2023 second-rounder. Hronek has been a good fit in Vancouver since joining the Canucks. He will be an RFA with arbitration rights this summer.
So, look at what they did: they moved a guy who will command a big pay increase in a few years, in exchange for assets that better fit the Red Wings window. The Yzerplan in full effect.
Doing what it takes for Calgary to win
This is the exact line of thinking the Flames need to deploy now and into the future. I don’t think anyone realistically expects the Flames to win a Stanley Cup during the current Andersson contract. So I think this conversation is definitely worth having. Nothing should be truly 100% off the table for a team like Calgary.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
