NHL Rumours: Calgary Flames Star Likely to be Traded

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours. Today’s focus is on the Calgary Flames and what is happening with their star defenceman Rasmus Andersson and others amid one of the worst starts in franchise history. This includes a culture issue potentially brewing, so let’s check it out.

All rumours come from the original source and are subject to change as we move forward.

NHL Rumours and the Status of Rasmus Andersson

Rumour: Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson is not opposed to re-signing with the team, but “smart money” is on him still being traded this season, from Darren Dreger on the Barn Burner podcast.

Analysis: Rasmus Andersson is in the final year of a six-year, $4.55 million annual average value (AAV) contract, and is the subject of increasing trade talk around the NHL. The Flames star defenceman is looking for a full value contract in what could be his last big money contract for the 29 year old.

Andersson Looking for Full Value

It’s no secret that the Flames got a bargain for Rasmus Andersson off of his entry level contract. However, coming off of a disappointing season last year the chances of him signing an extension in the offseason were zero. Andersson did say in a preseason interview that he would never “handcuff” the team if a trade became inevitable. He also added he “grew up in this city” and that he “loved every second of it, that will never change“. On the business side of the hockey world he knows his contract is under value for what he brings to an NHL lineup, and could be looking at a significant raise.

Flames Looking for Continued Leadership

Rasmus Andersson has been a true leader of the Flames. Furthermore, with talented young defencemen in the Flames system along the lines of a Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz, Andersson’s leadership and mentorship along with his play could prove to be invaluable. The Flames are continuing to look to get younger as the rest of the NHL is going in that direction.

In the most recent edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman expects the Flames to make a short-term solution move. He cautions that a move like that, which the Flames have made in the past, could prove to back fire in the long run. With a new building on the way in Calgary, the expectations are for the Flames to have playoff games in there as soon as possible.

Culture Problem Brewing

The culture of the Flames since head coach Ryan Huska took the job has been to be tough to play against physically. In the Flames 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights it appeared that Yegor Sharangovich, who could’ve laid a big open ice hit, backed off considerably. This led to Kevin Bieksa to rip him on Hockey Night in Canada after the game. This ties into the Rasmus Andersson contract, if he feels like there won’t be a chance to win with the team as constructed now, we could see him on the move in the near future.

There’s some interest out there for Andersson, as it was reported that the Vegas Golden Knights are poking around, and Elliotte Friedman on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio Morning Skate, also suggests that the Los Angeles Kings have an interest in acquiring him.