2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Six million dollars might not be enough for him to change course on where he wants to go. He has generational wealth in either scenario

And a lot depends on structure and making a buyout less likely.

We all just look at years x salary (in other words AAV).

But a long-term contract at a lower AAV may be a greater total figure off the bat, but not if it's bought out in the last couple years. Andersson might want to make the most money in the first 5 years and protect it with signing bonuses versus wage.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Six million dollars might not be enough for him to change course on where he wants to go. He has generational wealth in either scenario

By that logic he would be happy to settle for $50M or $40M.

I doubt he is willing to leave $6M on the table based on the rumour that his demand starts with a 9. He is going to want that 8 year contract.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Wolven

By that logic he would be happy to settle for $50M or $40M.

I doubt he is willing to leave $6M on the table based on the rumour that his demand starts with a 9. He is going to want that 8 year contract.

That’s not the same logic at all and exaggerating stuff doesn’t really help make much of a point. Six million is 8% of the contract value over 7 years. It’s about the same as someone making 100k turning down an extra 10k a year to pick somewhere they actually want to live. People do it all the time.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2012966133301756234

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Sharks are reportedly putting Nick Leddy on waivers today.

GMMG is such a tease! I hope he is closing in on Andersson!

So, if I were Sandman or cral12, how would I compare Bystedt vs. Letourneau vs. Poitras?

I feel like Letourneau is who I'd want with Bystedt in second place.

[Roko]

Royle or Sec do we think today? Tomorrow means he mayyy play another game for Calgary which would be weird.

[tony-soprano]

The Flames can’t do a sign and trade or add conditions if the team signs the player later, right? I was thinking if the Boston deal is the best option, but Rasmus wants $9M and they are capped at $8M, can the Flames retain the extra $1M of the cap hit per season?

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Reign of Fire

Feels like we have seen this movie before. Pure speculation, but it seems Rasmus isn't signing an extension. Otherwise with all the smoke, deal would've been done by now. Hope I am wrong, but it starting to get that feeling. Contracts get signed faster during free agency and I bet his will be the first to drop on July 1.

Why would a deal with no extension take longer than a deal with extension? The longer it takes, the more likely it is that it includes an extension. Because Andersson has to agree to it.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by tony-soprano

The Flames can’t do a sign and trade or add conditions if the team signs the player later, right? I was thinking if the Boston deal is the best option, but Rasmus wants $9M and they are capped at $8M, can the Flames retain the extra $1M of the cap hit per season?

I doubt the Flames would want to tie up a retention slot for 8 years unless the return was Hagens lol

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Roko

Royle or Sec do we think today? Tomorrow means he mayyy play another game for Calgary which would be weird.

If, as Friedman said, Conroy made the calls to get best and final offers yesterday, I imagine we are nearing the end.

I think we have seen Raz’s last game.

[Enoch Root]

Fans tend to assess teams based heavily on prospect pools and such. Players tend to evaluate other teams based on the players on the roster, and what they're like to play against. Boston is not currently a powerhouse, there is no debate there. However, they have some quality pieces - especially from the viewpoint of a defenseman:

MacAvoy, Andersson, Lindholm, Zadorov would look like a pretty attractive top 4 to be part of, from Andersson's perspective, I would imagine - a very solid backend for the foreseeable future

And Swayman in net.

Add to that Pastrnak up front (who is very highly regarded among players), plus others like Geekie, Mittlestadt, Zacha, and his old friend Lindholm, up front.

That's a pretty solid core - certainly enough to give Andersson something to think about.

[Reign of Fire]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

Why would a deal with no extension take longer than a deal with extension? The longer it takes, the more likely it is that it includes an extension.

So, we wait. Even Harbaugh's contract didn't take this long.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Bonded

That’s not the same logic at all and exaggerating stuff doesn’t really help make much of a point. Six million is 8% of the contract value over 7 years. It’s about the same as someone making 100k turning down an extra 10k a year to pick somewhere they actually want to live. People do it all the time.

Except he only has a few years to make that money.
And probably his last chance .

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Fans tend to assess teams based heavily on prospect pools and such. Players tend to evaluate other teams based on the players on the roster, and what they're like to play against. Boston is not currently a powerhouse, there is no debate there. However, they have some quality pieces - especially from the viewpoint of a defenseman:

MacAvoy, Andersson, Lindholm, Zadorov would look like a pretty attractive top 4 to be part of, from Andersson's perspective, I would imagine - a very solid backend for the foreseeable future

And Swayman in net.

Add to that Pastrnak up front (who is very highly regarded among players), plus others like Geekie, Mittlestadt, Zacha, and his old friend Lindholm, up front.

That's a pretty solid core - certainly enough to give Andersson something to think about.

Conversely how could it not be appealing to be feeding pucks to Celebrini for the next 8 years. Or getting the Dylan Larkin era core over the hump just by showing up there and playing with that group.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Except he only has a few years to make that money.
And probably his last chance .

He’s going to get a sizeable contract either way now or on July 1st. Doesn’t change much for him if he doesn’t want to extend with any of the teams with the best offers on the table.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Conversely how could it not be appealing to be feeding pucks to Celebrini for the next 8 years. Or getting the Dylan Larkin era core over the hump just by showing up there and playing with that group.

Unless Stockton would have completely scared me off of California then I’d be picking San Jose personally. A bit of a gamble on their young players but they sure look like they are turning the corner.

[dammage79]

San Jose, he'd be the #1 guy for the entirety of his contract. On a young up and coming team already making noise. San Jose from a competitive perspective would be the most appealing in all of the league for a Rasmus Andersson type.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Bonded

He’s going to get a sizeable contract either way now or on July 1st. Doesn’t change much for him if he doesn’t want to extend with any of the teams with the best offers on the table.

Maybe. But it’s likely a big boost in terms of money for Andersson if he can be traded to a team he wants to sign with and they pay him market value (or above) because then he can potentially get an extra year on his contract.

I used Boston earlier as an example but let’s say Dallas because of the taxes. What if Vegas is too cap constrained to offer him as much as say Dallas.

Vegas: $8 million x 7 years = $56 million
Dallas: $9.5 million x 8 years = $76 million

He may prefer Vegas as a place to live and maybe more as a cup contender but does he like that much more to give up $20 million in career earnings?

Again, made up numbers and teams, but these are big decisions to make. Everything in terms of where he wants to live and play hockey could say one team but the $$$ could make him consider somewhere else.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Bonded

That’s not the same logic at all and exaggerating stuff doesn’t really help make much of a point. Six million is 8% of the contract value over 7 years. It’s about the same as someone making 100k turning down an extra 10k a year to pick somewhere they actually want to live. People do it all the time.

Exaggerating the numbers just proves the point - How much money do you think is acceptable to leave on the table? You are arguing that throwing away $6M isn't a big deal because he is going to have generational wealth in either case, but that is true even if he only gets $40M too.

Walking away from $6M is a big deal, even when you are hoping to make $70M.

I do not believe that Andersson is locked into going UFA. I think he is saying that simply to ensure that he gets good extension offers. If he gets a good offer from a good team that is going to be competitive for the next 8 years then he'll lock in.

I like the Bruins but I am not sure they are the best selection for a team that will be competitive for that window. There are positives for Andersson to consider:
- They are in the playoff picture now and upgrading their D will only help them.
- Looking at the age of their core players they are likely competitive for the next 5+ years
- They have Hagens ready to upgrade their top line C and keep them in it

I think the long term potential upside of the Sharks or Ducks is bigger but the Bruins are sitting in 9th place overall in the league while also being in a wildcard spot. Lots to consider...

[united]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The fact it is dragging out is encouraging. If Rasmus doesn't want to sign, this would be over. If they are too far apart on numbers, it would be over. But they could be finalizing details such as degree of trade protection he has going forward, etc.
It's likely an 8 year deal so it's a massive commitment from both sides.
Devils in the details.
If they are still talking, that's good.

Exactly!

- Trade protection - and commensurate reduction in financial compensation
- Movement protection - and commensurate reduction in financial compensation
- % of compensation paid as signing bonuses, by year, within what is permitted by the rules
- Salary, by year, within what is permitted by the rules

Players obviously want as much up front in bonuses as is permitted, followed by upfront salary. Teams, the opposite. So while the general framework may be agreed upon, i.e., $72 million over eight years, there is a lot of work around the finer details to get there. Different teams also have internal budgets and internal policies on this stuff.

Not as easy as EA Sports presumably makes it to be.