The Vegas Golden Knights set the ball rolling ahead of the Feb. 4 Olympic trade freeze by swinging for the fences and trading for Rasmus Andersson. The Calgary Flames, who were open for business, more than obliged, sending the D-man to Sin City.
While the trade was announced a few days ago, Andersson still hasn’t made his debut for the Golden Knights just yet. Fans were holding out hope that he would take the ice for Friday night’s road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, also dubbed the ‘Mitch Marner Bowl.’
That, however, is unlikely to be the case.
Rasmus Andersson Might Have To Wait For His Vegas Golden Knights Debut
The issue does not pertain to any NHL-related paperwork or an injury.
As it turns out, the Swedish D-man’s visa situation is delaying his debut as the Golden Knights wait on the paperwork pertaining to a non-American citizen joining an American franchise. The delay has been chalked down to Andersson, a native of Sweden, having not lived in the United States before.
The Flames’ former second-round pick has only lived in his home country and Canada so far.
Andersson did make the trip ahead of the Golden Knights’ faceoff against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. “It’s all immigration related right now,” Cassidy said. “There’s no injury, no roster issue, so going to Canada, I don’t know if that makes it easier or harder. He’s here, so that means there’s a chance, otherwise he wouldn’t have come.”
However, as things stand, it appears unlikely that Andersson will take the ice at the Mitch Marner bowl later tonight.
The Golden Knights need a win to take the sour taste of their loss to the Boston Bruins out of their mouths. The David Pastrnak-powered Bruins scored three times in 54 seconds at TD Garden to condemn Vegas to defeat.
Another tall order faces them as they prep for a back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs have a couple of injury concerns to deal with, so there should be some parity between the two teams as Vegas battles some fatigue from a tight loss to Boston.
That said, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Carlo were both taking part in the Leafs skate this morning. The Leafs have also recalled Henry Thrun to add some depth.
All things considered, rather than Andersson’s much-awaited debut, all eyes will be on Mitch Marner tonight and how he deals with the hostility at Scotiabank Arena. Asked about his thoughts this morning, Marner said, “I don’t want to look back anymore. I don’t want to look at the past. I’m focused on what’s going on right now. It’s another hockey game. Just go out there and play.”
The Leafs will have a video tribute ready for Marner but Vegas’s $96 million man isn’t trying to think of it too much. “I think it will be a cool moment. I’m going to try to enjoy it and get back to hockey right away. I know it will be a weird, cool moment all in one,” he said.
Puck drops at 7 p.m. EST.
