The Calgary Flames are once again making headlines in the NHL, and this time the focus is squarely on defenseman Rasmus Andersson. As the 2025-26 season approaches, the Flames find themselves at the center of swirling trade rumors, with captain Mikael Backlund openly acknowledging a growing divide between Andersson and the organization. The speculation has only intensified following Backlund’s candid remarks during the NHL’s European Media Tour, and fans across the league are watching closely to see what the next move will be for the embattled blue-liner.
Backlund, who has spent his entire 17-season, 1,066-game NHL career in Calgary and was named captain in 2023, didn’t mince words when speaking to Michael Russo of The Athletic. He said, “Yeah, [Andersson is] getting traded. It’s obvious… I talked to him, too, and he doesn’t want to be a distraction… It’s too bad that it’s come to this. I don’t think that they’re close to getting an agreement, but you never know. Things could change.” Backlund’s deep roots in the Flames organization and his longstanding leadership role lend significant weight to his comments, making it clear that the situation is reaching a tipping point.
At the heart of the issue is Andersson’s contract status. The 28-year-old defenseman is entering the final year of his deal, which carries a $4.55 million cap hit. While Andersson is reportedly seeking a significant raise, the Flames are holding firm on a value-focused offer, creating a standoff that appears unlikely to resolve anytime soon. With unrestricted free agency looming next summer, the pressure is mounting for Calgary to make a decision before the season gets underway.
Andersson’s value to the Flames cannot be overstated. A mainstay on the top defensive pairing, he’s logged heavy minutes and contributed offensively even as the team around him has undergone significant change. In the 2024-25 season, Andersson tied his career-high with 11 goals and added 31 points, a slight dip from his previous campaigns—he recorded 50 points in 2021-22, 49 in 2022-23, and 39 in 2023-24. While those numbers reflect a modest decline, they also underscore his consistency and ability to drive play from the back end, even as the roster has been in flux.
The Flames’ blue line has seen a dramatic overhaul since general manager Craig Conroy initiated a series of moves in 2023 and 2024. Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and Noah Hanifin—all once key pieces of the Calgary defense—were dealt away, leaving Andersson as the lone long-term holdover. He’s now joined by veteran MacKenzie Weegar and the up-and-coming Kevin Bahl, but the unit is a far cry from its former self. The prospect of losing Andersson, too, would leave another gaping hole and force Conroy to once again reimagine the team’s defensive identity.
Interest in Andersson has been robust, to say the least. Teams across the NHL are monitoring the situation, with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes reportedly emerging as early frontrunners. Pacific Division rivals like the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights have also been linked to Andersson, though any intra-division move would come with added intrigue and risk for Calgary. The Golden Knights, in particular, might be especially motivated to strike a deal, as star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season due to injury. However, Vegas would need to clear roughly $1 million in cap space to accommodate Andersson’s contract, assuming the Flames are willing to retain the maximum allowable 50 percent of his salary.
For Calgary fans, the situation is both familiar and unsettling. The franchise has already weathered a series of high-profile departures and trades over the past two years. Each move has signaled a new era for the club, and the potential loss of Andersson would be another significant chapter in that ongoing story. Despite the rumors that have swirled around Andersson in previous seasons, his role as a top-pair offensive defenseman and occasional assistant captain since 2022 has made him a cornerstone of the Flames’ efforts to remain competitive in a tough Western Conference.
Backlund’s remarks have only added fuel to the fire. His statement that Andersson “doesn’t want to be a distraction” hints at a player who, despite his value, recognizes the toll that prolonged uncertainty can take on a locker room. It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has followed the NHL’s relentless trade cycle, where even the most established stars can find themselves on the move when contract talks go sideways.
Looking at the numbers, Andersson’s production last season—tying his career-high in goals with 11 and totaling 31 points—might not leap off the page compared to his earlier peak years, but it’s a testament to his resilience and importance to a team in transition. His offensive instincts and ability to sustain pressure in the offensive zone have made him a coveted asset, and it’s no surprise that teams with playoff aspirations are circling.
For the Flames, the dilemma is clear: hold firm on their valuation and risk losing Andersson for nothing next summer, or strike a deal now and accelerate the team’s ongoing rebuild. The front office’s willingness to move on from established veterans in recent years suggests that a trade is not only possible but perhaps inevitable. Yet, as Backlund noted, “you never know. Things could change.” In the unpredictable world of NHL negotiations, a breakthrough is always just a phone call away.
As the 2025-26 NHL season draws nearer, all eyes are on Calgary. Will Andersson remain a Flame, or will he be the latest in a line of high-profile departures? With suitors lining up and the team’s defensive core already stretched thin, the stakes couldn’t be higher. One thing’s for sure: the coming weeks promise to be anything but dull for Flames fans and NHL observers alike.
For now, the trade winds continue to swirl, and Rasmus Andersson’s future in Calgary remains one of the league’s most compelling storylines. Whether he stays or goes, his legacy as a key figure in the Flames’ recent history is secure. But with every passing day, the sense of change grows stronger, and the next move could reshape the team’s fortunes for years to come.
