12 hours ago
Amidst trade rumours, Flames GM says Rasmus Andersson could start next season in Calgary
As trade speculation swirls, Calgary Flames fans would do anything for a glimpse at the call log on Craig Conroy's cell phone.
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They'd love to know who has been inquiring about Rasmus Andersson, which rival general managers are angling to trade for the workhorse defenceman and what they're willing to offer in exchange.
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Conroy isn't going to divulge those details, of course, although he confirmed that he did have one important conversation Thursday, on the eve of the 2025 NHL Draft.
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'I talked to Ras this morning and we're all good,' Conroy said during an early afternoon media scrum at the Saddledome. 'If he's a Calgary Flame in September, he's a Calgary Flame.'
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There's no guarantee that Andersson will still be a Flame by the end of the weekend, though.
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As he enters the final year of his current contract, it has been rumoured that the 28-year-old blueliner is ready for a change of scenery.
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There are several contending teams that could benefit from the addition of a big-minute rearguard, especially one with a right-shot curve on his stick, so there should be widespread interest.
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Despite posting a miserable minus-38 rating in 2024-25, Andersson can handle tough matchups, can contribute in the offensive zone and has a reputation as a strong voice in the locker room. He was selected as Sweden's captain at the world championship tournament.
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Andersson also showed his toughness and competitive streak by playing the final few weeks of this past season with a broken fibula. He continued to rack up blocked shots, finishing fourth among all NHLers with 196.
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It's certainly possible that Conroy will receive a trade offer he can't refuse prior to (or during) Friday's first round of the draft. Maybe he's already mulling a couple of potential packages.
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On Thursday, however, he was sending the rest of the league a message that he won't be rushed into a deal. A contract extension for Andersson seems unlikely, especially since the Flames have an impressive stable of defence prospects, but Conroy was adamant that 'we're never going to close a door.'
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'You gotta look at it — Ras has got another year on his contract,' Conroy reminded. 'There's nothing that I would say is going to happen or not going to happen. You know, we would never do it in the media anyways. We're just going to go about our business and try to make the team better, with the draft coming up and free agency.
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'(Andersson) loves being a Flame,' he added. 'If he's a Flame next year, he's good with anything. He's wide open and he's going to do his best. And he knows it's a contract year, too, so he wants to have a great year. He wants to be in the Olympics. All those things are so important to him.'
