Golden Knights Reportedly Interested in Flames Defenseman Rasmus Andersson
The Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly in the running for Calgary Flames right-handed defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
Pierre LeBrun shared this week that Andersson is open to signing a contract extension with the Golden Knights, though he’s been very selective about his future destination. Andersson has a six-team no-trade clause, giving the Flames flexibility but also creating a challenge for teams, as many are hesitant to make trades without knowing how contract talks with Andersson will unfold.
LeBrun noted that the Golden Knights and Flames have engaged in several discussions over the past week, but the Flames haven’t been satisfied with Vegas’ offers so far. Besides the Golden Knights, the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Los Angeles Kings have also shown interest in the defenseman.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Dallas Stars are also in the mix for the 28-year-old, although they would need to move Ilya Lyubushkin and Matt Dumba to make room for him.
Pagnotta also mentioned that Vegas has been looking to trade veteran defenseman Ben Hutton, whose $975,000 cap hit could help clear space. The 32-year-old appeared in just 11 games last season, mostly as the eighth defenseman. With Alex Pietrangelo’s hip injury and Nicolas Hague’s departure, Hutton has temporarily filled the seventh defenseman role, but if Andersson joins, Hutton’s position would likely be reduced again.
Andersson would add a modern two-way presence to the Golden Knights. Standing at 6-foot-1, he combines strong skating ability and offensive instincts, making him a solid all-around defenseman. The Swedish native has recorded a career-high 11 goals and 50 points in a season.
Adding Andersson would also provide the Golden Knights with another player who has chemistry with fellow former Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin. The pair had great success playing together in Calgary, and bringing Andersson in could help stabilize Hanifin’s inconsistent play with Vegas.
However, acquiring Andersson would push the Golden Knights over the salary cap, even with Pietrangelo’s cap hit on long-term injury reserve. To make the deal work, they would need to clear cap space, either by trading Andersson or making a separate move.
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