Is Rasmus Andersson going to be traded? Two mock trades involving the swedish defensman!

Rasmus Andersson - traded or not?

The 28-year-old swedish defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who soon is 29 years old, has been surrounded by trade rumours the entire summer. His team-mate and compatriot, Mikael Backlund, told the media this summer that ”It’s obvious Andersson is getting traded”. Andersson is a two-way defenseman with 50 points the 2021/2022 season as the strongest in terms of points.

Andersson has now entered the last year of his six-year deal at Calgary and a re-sign is, at the moment, unlikely as the Flames aim to rebuild and renew their roster. In the last couple of years, defensmen like Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov have been traded away from Calgary with younger players and draftpicks in return.

Calgary have their top defensman, Mackenzie Weegar, signed up to and including the 2030-2031 season with a cap hit of $6,250,000 per season. I don’t think Calgary are interested in further more extensions with defensmen around 30-years old. Especially when their highly rated prospect Zayne Parekh, drafted as 9th overall in 2024, probably will get a big contract when his current runs out after the 2027/2028 season.

As Calgary want something in return, i think that it is likely to see a trade involving Rasmus Andersson before the trade deadline in march 2026. But where is he going to be traded? I think that it is likely that he is going to end up in a contender for the playoffs or for the Stanley Cup win. I also believe that Andersson himself prefers a destination where the ambitions are high. If he gets traded; what are Calgary going to get in return to be pleasured?I have thought about that and going to give you two mock trades!

New York Rangers

To New York Rangers: Rasmus Andersson

To Calgary Flames: Braden Schneider, Scott Morrow and Brennan Othmann

I think New York Rangers would be a good spot for Rasmus Andersson. Rangers are closer to a Stanley Cup win than Calgary, and could therefore put money in older players to add quality and experience. Currently, Adam Fox is the only offensively oriented defender at Rangers with Will Borgen, Vladislav Gavrikov, Carlson Soucy, Urho Vaakanainen and Braden Schneider as the other five at the ordinary defense. I think Rangers should add another offensively option in their defensive, to put away some pressure from Adam Fox and to have more options in powerplay.

At the other direction, i think Rangers could send three younger players to secure the deal. Braden Schneider is one of six defenders at their ordinary roster, but far away from what they wished for when they drafted him as 19th overall at 2020. Schneider has, just like Andersson, entered the last year of his contract but it is going to be far cheaper to extend that contract than to extend Anderssons’s contract. A fresh start and a bigger role in his country of birth could be a good option for both Schneider and Calgary.

Besides Schneider, i think Calgary would be a good spot for defenseman Scott Morrow. Morrow was a part of a trade this summer where K’Andre Miller was sent to Carolina Hurricanes. I think it is too hard for Morrow to take a ordinary spot in this defensive core at this moment. He has been a productive player in AHL but has had a hard time getting a regular jersey in Carolina since the draft 2021. A fresh start and a prominent role in a re-building Calgary among other youngsters would, in my opinion, be a good place for the 22-year-old Morrow.

Finally, i think the Rangers should part ways with their 22-year-old winger Brennan Othmann. He was Rangers’ first hand choice at the draft 2021 as he was picked at 16th overall. Othmann has since then struggled to take a ordinary jersey in NHL even though he has been an productive player in the AHL two seasons in a row. Just like for Schneider and Morrow, i think Othmann would benefit from a trade to Calgary and to be a part of their re-build.

Los Angeles Kings

To Los Angeles Kings: Rasmus Andersson (25% retained)

To Calgary Flames: Samuel Bolduc, Alex Turcotte, 2026 2nd round pick

Los Angeles Kings really need to strengthen their defensive core. My colleague Andreas described LA Kings’ defensively summer transfers in his guide to the Pacific Division in this way:

”Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence out – Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin in. It’s hard to describe it as anything other than a very clear downgrade, especially since the cost was the same”

The start of the season has been as expected. Both Ceci and Dumoulin have had a tough time and a defensive strenghtening would be welcome. Kings have one of the oldest rosters in the NHL and are in a win-now-moment. Especially when their captain, Anze Kopitar, has announced that this season is his last in the NHL. Besides Kopitar, the team have several aging players in their core:

Darcy Kuemper, 35 years old

Anton Forsberg, 32 years old (33 in december)

Drew Doughty, 35 years old (36 in december)

Joel Edmundson, 32 years old

Brian Dumoulin, 34 years old

Cody Ceci, 31 years old (32 in december)

Phillip Danault, 32 years old

Adrian Kempe, 29 years old

Andrei Kuzmenko, 29 years old

Kevin Fiala, 29 years old

Trevor Moore, 30 years old

Corey Perry, 40 years old

Warren Foegele, 29 years old

If i were the General Manager of Los Angeles Kings, i would go for a long playoff run and, in best case scenario, a Stanley Cup. This season is, vere likely, the last in many years where LA Kings have a chance to make a long playoff run. Next year, Kopitar is not going go be there and it is probably not long until Doughty, Perry and Kuemper retires too. And to have a chance to challenge for playoff spots and a Stanley Cup, they have to strengthen their defense. Can Rasmus Andersson be there option? It would be a good strenghtening for them.

I will be honest and say that i think the LA Kings do not have many players that Calgary would be interested in. However, they need to strengthen behind their first-choice goaltender Dustin Wolf and LA Kings need to clear up some cap space to seal the deal. Therefore, i think Anton Forsberg could be their option. What speaks against that trade is that LA Kings do not want to get rid of their backup goaltender, and therefore i do not think that Forsberg will be a part of the deal.

Samuel Bolduc is new in LA for this season after five season at New York Islanders. It was hard for Bolduc to get an regular jersey in the left-hand side defense at Islanders, as he competed with players such as Adam Pelech and Alexander Romanov for ordinary spots. Bolduc is 24 years old and has many years left to show his ability that made him the 57th overall pick in the draft 2019.

The second player in this mock draft is the center Alex Turcotte who was drafted as 5th overall in the same draft as Samuel Bolduc, 2019. Since the draft, Turcotte has struggled to make an impression and get a regular jersey in NHL. When he has been given the chance and been the part of the roster, the time on ice has been limited. This season has started in the same way, as Turcotte has played around seven minutes per game in the fourth line. A trade to a team with its ambitions a little further ahead in time would, in my opinion, be a god option for the american two-way center.

To make Calgary fully pleasured with the trade, a 2nd round pick in the upcoming draft could be a good last asset to hand over. And to finalize the deal and make it work, Calgary have to retain 25 % of Rasmus Andersson’s salary, as the Kings have less cap space than Calgary. I think Calgary would be fine with that, as they get som assets in return.

Now, we just have to wait and see; traded or not? As a Swede, I would love to see Rasmus Andersson at a Stanley Cup contender in the coming spring!