Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson has become one of the most talked-about trade targets this season. He’s in the final year of his six-year, $27.3 million contract and has yet to sign an extension, which has only fueled the speculation.
With Calgary off to a rough start and sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Division, many fans assumed the team might shake up the roster, and Andersson’s name quickly jumped to the front of the conversation. Now, Flames President of Hockey Operations Don Maloney has addressed where things actually stand.
Is Rasmus Andersson on the Trade Block? Here’s What the Flames President Said
Speaking with Sportsnet on Saturday, Maloney discussed Andersson’s situation. Andersson has been one of the team’s best players this season, producing five goals and 13 points.
Maloney explained that contract talks fall primarily under the purview of GM Craig Conroy, but emphasized that the organization is constantly discussing them. He said Andersson loves Calgary, and he’s the type of player who hates to lose, precisely the kind of mentality the Flames want more of.
“The last thing we want is him walking out the door, but he has certain rights. We have rights. The idea was, ‘Let’s get into the season, let’s see how things go. We’ll revisit this at some point.’ And that’s where we sit.”
He stressed that neither side has closed the door, but acknowledged that time is becoming a factor. “We’d love, personally, to find a way to get him signed here long term, but we’ll see whether that can happen,” Maloney said.
When asked about how impressed he’s been with Andersson’s play despite the uncertainty, Maloney said he admires how unaffected Andersson has been from the start. His focus has simply been on helping the team win. “He’s probably been our best defenceman, or certainly over the last three weeks he’s playing great hockey right now, which is great for him, great for us,” He said.
He also acknowledged the possibility that, if no contract solution is found, the Flames may eventually need to consider alternatives. But he made it clear the team isn’t rushing into anything unless a significant offer comes along.
He also mentioned that draft picks aren’t appealing unless they’re high-end, since any team acquiring Andersson would likely be playoff-caliber, meaning the pick would fall in the 20–32 range. Calgary will continue its road trip on Saturday when it next faces the Vancouver Canucks.
