FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: When does Rasmus Andersson's future get sorted out?

Calgary Herald

2 days ago

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For teams around the league, Andersson's low-cost contract — he's only getting paid $4.55-million US next season — will make him an attractive option. That's especially true for teams who wanted to make a splash in free agency, but couldn't get their guy.
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For the Flames, a deal in the summer also mitigates any risk of Andersson getting hurt and losing all his trade value in-season. Remember, this is a player who finished fourth in the NHL in blocked shots in 2024-25.
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Dealing Andersson in the summer would also provide some clarity on the roster and avoid season-long questions about his future, so if the right deal comes along before training camp it might make a lot of sense to take it.
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February 1
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Admittedly, Feb. 1 is a bit of an arbitrary day to choose here, but the point is that the Flames don't necessarily need to wait until the trade deadline to deal Andersson in-season.
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Remember, as an example, that they moved Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 1, 2023, after they were offered a package they liked in return. That same season, Nikita Zadorov was traded in early December and Chris Tanev was dealt a week before the deadline.
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It's a matter of when the right offer comes in, not necessarily about holding on to your player until the last possible minute.
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In an ideal world, Andersson has a great start to the season, gets selected to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics and his value is at an all-time high when the Flames look to trade him.
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Early March/Trade Deadline
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If a new contract hasn't been agreed on and Andersson hasn't been dealt, the Flames will be hoping for a bidding war as the league's contenders look to load up for long playoff runs. It's likely where the best deal will materialize, but waiting this long definitely carries risks.
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For one thing, if the Flames can replicate the success they found in 2024-25 and are still in the playoff mix, it could be awkward to trade away a locker room leader and one of their top stars. As we mentioned earlier, there's always the risk of injury, too.
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With that said, Andersson is going to be an attractive trade chip and teams get desperate around deadline time when their rivals start adding weapons to their roster. The rewards could absolutely be worth the risk.
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At his introductory press conference, Conroy spoke about the lessons he learned when Johnny Gaudreau left the Flames as a free agent in 2022 and he has proven more than willing to deal away guys instead of losing them for nothing since taking over as GM.
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