The future of defenseman Rasmus Andersson with the Calgary Flames appears increasingly uncertain, as openly suggested by team captain Mikael Backlund.
In a conversation with Michael Russo of The Athletic, Backlund, a veteran forward for the Flames, candidly stated his belief that Andersson`s departure is “obvious” and that “he`s getting traded.”
“The organization is seeking value, and Rasmus is looking for a significant contract. Consequently, he aims to perform exceptionally well, and the team needs him to do so. My advice to him was simply to focus on playing. We`ve spoken, and he`s committed to not being a distraction, which is positive. It`s truly unfortunate that circumstances have reached this stage. I don`t believe they are close to reaching an agreement, but situations can always shift. We`ll have to wait and see,” Backlund elaborated during the NHL`s recent European media tour.
Andersson, a 28-year-old blueliner, is scheduled to earn $4.5 million in the upcoming season, which marks the final year of his current contract. This contractual status positions him as a prime candidate for a trade before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Last season, he appeared in 81 games, contributing 11 goals and 20 assists, alongside a plus/minus rating of minus-38.
A second-round pick in the 2015 draft, the Swedish defenseman has spent his entire NHL career with Calgary, accumulating 231 points (47 goals, 184 assists) over 536 contests.
However, speculation surrounding Andersson`s future has been a recurring theme, notably since the 2024 trade deadline, when the Flames strategically moved other key defensemen such as Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, and Nikita Zadorov.
According to PuckPedia, Andersson holds a no-trade clause that covers six specific teams.
Furthermore, Sportsnet`s Nick Kypreos included Andersson on the final off-season “Real Kyper`s Trade Board,” affirming that a trade remains the most probable outcome. Kypreos indicated that for Calgary to maximize their return, Andersson would likely need to be open to signing an extension with his acquiring team, and his list of preferred destinations is reportedly quite limited.
The Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs last season and remained largely inactive during the subsequent free agency period, indicating a potential rebuild or retooling phase.