The trade rumors would not stop, but Rasmus Andersson never blinked. Months of whispers, offers, and speculation could not pry him away from the Calgary Flames.
Now, with the season about to begin, Andersson is still Calgary’s anchor on defense, and everyone is left wondering how long that will last. Are the Flames about to gamble on one of their best defenders walking away for nothing, or is there more to this standoff than anyone realizes?
Is Rasmus Andersson Too Valuable for the Flames to Move Right Now?
Andersson is set to lead the Flames’ blue line to open the 2025-26 campaign, despite a summer full of trade talk. Plenty of teams showed interest, but none got close enough to make a deal happen. Instead, Calgary has decided to hold steady with Andersson, 28, entering the last season of his six-year, $27.3 million contract, complete with a $4.55 million cap hit. With free agency looming in 2026, the risk is clear: the Flames could lose one of their top defenders for nothing if they hold on too long.
Teams across the league see value in Andersson, but making a trade work is another matter. The real issue is cost. Any club after Andersson would have to part with assets and then commit to a long-term extension. Put together, that price tag has been too high for most potential buyers.
Frank Seravalli, an NHL insider, broke it down: The biggest problem is not just Andersson’s value, but also the fact that a new team would need to shell out for both assets and a significant contract. That mix has made talks drag on much longer than anyone expected.
Frank Seravalli: I don’t want to say that the deals that were offered to Calgary for Rasmus Andersson were underwhelming, I think everyone…recognizes that when you trade for Anderson you need to pay him; it’s acquisition cost plus cost on your cap – Bleacher Report (8/22)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 25, 2025
“I don’t want to say that the deals that were offered to Calgary this summer for Rasmus Anderson were underwhelming. I think everyone just also recognizes that when you trade for Rasmus Anderson, that also means that you need to pay him,” Seravalli said.
“And with that comes a whole different set of costs. It’s acquisition cost plus the cost on your cap following that.”
“But you would think that that would be balanced out a little bit by the 4.55 million that Anderson is making on the cap this year. Such a strong value,” he added.
Sticking with Andersson gives Calgary short-term stability. He’s still the team’s most reliable blueliner and a voice in the locker room. Of course, holding on comes with long-term risks. Waiting until the trade deadline could mean losing leverage, especially if buyers know Calgary needs a deal.
Andersson’s numbers in 2024-25 were solid, but he did not set any new marks. He scored 11 goals and added 31 points in 81 games, slightly trailing his earlier production. Still, double-digit goals are rare for defensemen, and Andersson’s heavy minutes make him tough to replace.
Ideally, Andersson comes out hot, boosts his stats, and lifts the Flames in the standings. That scenario would keep their playoff hopes alive and also push his trade value higher, giving the front office a real decision as the season goes on.
Seravalli summed it up: “Maybe they can thread this needle between helping their team get off to a decent start, allowing for some veteran experience in their lineup to take hold with some young guys that they’re introducing and also get the return that they’re looking for,” he said.
Meanwhile, Andersson has personal reasons in play. He reportedly refused at least one substantial offer from another team this summer to stay closer to his family. He later said he provided Calgary with a list of acceptable destinations but did not lock himself into a single option, thereby shutting down talk that he only wanted a move to Vegas.
Contract talks between Calgary’s front office and Andersson remain tight-lipped, with no news of a fresh extension. Still, his six-team no-trade clause means Andersson has some say in where he goes next. There were rumors about deals with Los Angeles and Ottawa, but nothing ever stuck.
For now, the Flames kick off the season with Andersson right where he started: anchoring their defense. Whether he is still there by the end of the year is anybody’s guess. His early-season play could be what forces Calgary to go all-in for the playoffs or finally pull the trigger on a big trade.
