In Calgary, General Manager Craig Conroy has established a pattern that he would be wise to maintain.
During his initial two years as GM for the Calgary Flames, he has consistently completed trades in the week leading up to the draft, moving veteran players who were nearing unrestricted free agency.
Tyler Toffoli was traded two years ago.
Last year, Andrew Mangiapane was involved in such a trade.
This year, Rasmus Andersson appears to be the prime candidate for this pattern.
With the draft happening very soon, executing this trade promptly would allow the team to acquire valuable draft selections for use on Friday or Saturday.
Andersson`s future with the Flames became clear last week after contract extension talks revealed an unbridgeable divide between his expectations and the team`s offer.
This outcome was both understandable and predictable.
As the team`s primary defenseman in terms of ice time and blocked shots, Andersson is justified in seeking a lucrative contract, which numerous teams will be eager to offer next summer when the salary cap increases and he becomes available to the entire league.
Andersson is confident in his abilities, opting to bet on himself. His past performance, including a 50-point season, indicates he is a more effective player than his 31 points and minus-38 rating from the previous season might suggest.
The Flames are unwilling to meet his price and term expectations, considering Andersson will be 29 next summer and the team is still in a rebuilding phase, likely several years away from being a true contender.
Furthermore, the team has two promising young right-shot defensemen, Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz, who are expected to anchor the right side of the defense in the future, playing alongside MacKenzie Weegar.
Therefore, as was hinted at when Andersson gave what felt like a valedictory media session two months ago, the player and the team are likely to part ways.
It is mutually beneficial for this to occur before Friday`s draft, which is expected to be strong in centers, thereby increasing the Flames` opportunity to select and develop another forward.
This situation doesn`t mean the Flames should rush into a trade based on last week`s talks; maximizing the return for a reliable, well-paid, hard-shooting right-shot defenseman is crucial.
Considering Andersson`s attributes – his size (six-foot-one, 202 pounds) and skill set – many teams would be interested in acquiring a top-pair defenseman entering his prime, especially at a relatively low salary of $4.55 million for next season.
He also recently served as the captain for Sweden at the world championships, highlighting his leadership qualities.
Andersson possesses a no-trade list covering six teams, likely including division rivals Edmonton and Vancouver, about whom he famously quipped, “I hate the Oilers, I hate the Canucks, and that’s just the way I am.”
This competitive spirit and directness further enhance his desirability as a sought-after leader.
While he is appealing as a one-year rental player, teams seeking to sign him to a long-term extension via a sign-and-trade could potentially offer the Flames a more attractive package.
Negotiating such a sign-and-trade agreement might require additional time.
However, with teams well into their offseason planning, those with interest in Andersson have likely already considered the potential of acquiring a player known for his intensity.
Teams needing to strengthen their right defensive side have anticipated Andersson possibly being available for trade this summer.
It`s worth noting that the situation isn`t hostile, and Conroy isn`t pressured to make a trade immediately; he could wait until the trade deadline next season if needed.
If a suitable trade isn`t made this week or summer, Andersson, as a professional, would likely remain a key emotional leader for the team next season, offering guidance to Parekh.
However, keeping him could create the kind of distraction that Conroy has tried to prevent since the trade rumors surrounding pending UFAs like Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov became a major focus two seasons ago.
There`s also the concern about injury, particularly for a player who blocked 196 shots last year (ranking among the league leaders). It`s notable that Andersson finished the last 12 games of the season playing with a broken fibula sustained while blocking a shot.
