Rasmus Andersson watch — Will he stay or will he go?

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

I think I saw another person say it, but I think the most logical play this offseason for Conroy is to trade Andersson and sign Aaron Ekblad to a 2-4 year deal.

You'll certainly have to overpay for that type of term for Ekblad I'm sure, but it's something the Flames could easily afford for the duration of the contract.

He brings additional Cup pedigree, as well as the experience of carrying all the weight and living up to all the expectations that came with being an OHL Exceptional Status + NHL #1 Overall pick, so he'd be an absolutely perfect guide for Parekh.

Of course, he also has great relationships with Weegar, Huberdeau and Lomberg, and I could see any combo of Weegar-Parekh, Parekh-Ekblad, Weegar-Ekblad being absolutely dominant.

Ekblad is going to get a 7 yr deal from someone, 100%.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Coach

Still think we should have traded him at the deadline. We haven’t seen any big trade windows with prices like that in years, and it’s a market driven thing it’s pretty unpredictable and before you know it you’re trading him for a 2nd because “that’s just what the market is today”.

I also think a full season and a half of Ras at a discount was probably a better option than having to look at signing him to an 8x9 just to make your trade worth it.

Love Ras, been my favourite Flame since he became full time. Hopefully he commands something at the draft.

I think the Flames will still find a sizeable market for Andersson at the draft. There are more potential parties as teams look at the offseason. And Andersson at 50% retained, to any team that can slot him as a #3 and play him up the lineup as needed, will still have huge value

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't know why it's tracked. It's a useless stat that still gets reported on because it's always been reported on even though it tells you little to nothing, and there are far more telling metrics that can be used.

If a team is making personnel decisions using plus/minus they are utter fools.

Looking at his stats one thing I see really interesting is the flip on offensive zone and defensive zone starts.

Through all of Andersson's career he has had 55-60% of his starts in the O zone but this season he only had 45% in the O zone and 55 in the D zone.

The fact that he matched his career best goal scoring (11) this season with increased D zone deployments is a pretty good thing. I also think that the other changes in his stats point directly to his big jump in tougher D-zone deployments moreso than some eyeball test of decline in his play.

[Sylvanfan]

I wish there were options in the poll for
If he stays there will be trouble
And if he goes it will be double.

[Bonded]

My baseline expectation for an Andersson trade is the Hanifin return plus a better toss in than Miramanov.

[CliffFletcher]

CAR might be a darkhorse destination for Andersson. With Burns likely to retire, they’ll need help at RD. They have their 2025 1st rounder and 2x 1st rounders in 2026. They don’t have any C prospects to speak of, but if Conroy is desperate for C in that 22-25 range, Kotkaniemi fits the bill. Though that just opens up a big hole at C for the Hurricanes, especially with Staal’s career winding down. Plausible trades are hard.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

CAR might be a darkhorse destination for Andersson. With Burns likely to retire, they’ll need help at RD. They have their 2025 1st rounder and 2x 1st rounders in 2026. They don’t have any C prospects to speak of, but if Conroy is desperate for C in that 22-25 range, Kotkaniemi fits the bill. Though that just opens up a big hole at C for the Hurricanes, especially with Staal’s career winding down. Plausible trades are hard.

Not that Kadri would waive but he’d be perfect for the Canes

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Bonded

My baseline expectation for an Andersson trade is the Hanifin return plus a better toss in than Miramanov.

I would have much higher expectations than that.

1) This is not a trade deadline deal for only a few months
2) Hanifin and his agent nuked his trade value by restricting the trade to a couple of teams
3) Retention can allow just about any team (other than the Stars) to fit Andersson into their salary cap for 1 year before they have to pony up
4) A contract extension could be included as a part of the trade
5) There is a big market for RD and not a lot of options available for the next couple of summers, especially for players who are proven to be able to play top line minutes

I doubt the return will be as good as I am hoping for but I believe there is a good chance that it is better than either the Hanifin or Tanev trades.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Looking at his stats one thing I see really interesting is the flip on offensive zone and defensive zone starts.

Through all of Andersson's career he has had 55-60% of his starts in the O zone but this season he only had 45% in the O zone and 55 in the D zone.

The fact that he matched his career best goal scoring (11) this season with increased D zone deployments is a pretty good thing. I also think that the other changes in his stats point directly to his big jump in tougher D-zone deployments moreso than some eyeball test of decline in his play.

He basically had to take over Tanev’s role without being Tanev.

[Samonadreau]

Any word if there was an injury?

[Dion]

I think he gets traded on or before the draft. It will end up being a money issue as the Flames are not willing to pay what he wants. A list of teams is given and he's gonzo.

[stemit14]

Not sure if there is a team fit as far as a buyer but what if the flames offered a package like this at the draft:

Andersson (50% retained for next year) and extended
18th overall pick in 2025 draft (from New Jersey)

Is that enough to get a top 10 pick in the draft? Is it paying too much for a top ten pick especially in a draft that’s not considered to be as good as other recent drafts? Not sure if that package fits many teams with high picks this year even. I’m including the New Jersey pick because teams value draft picks so much at the draft. I’m trying to come up with a trade that gets the flames a pick in the top 10 and it’s becoming very rare for that kind of trade to happen. Maybe this is not the best draft to do it but it’s so difficult to ever get a trade done for a top ten pick and the flames are about to run out of players that could potentially be part of a package to get that done (and that the flames are willing to trade) - I think Andersson is likely the last vet that the flames look to trade that returns a first round pick (at least for a few years).

I could see maybe one of the following being willing to trade their pick but doubtful Andersson would waive his NTC for some of them let alone sign an extension:

Utah (picking 14th overall so they would for sure have to add)
Columbus (picking 13th overall so they would for sure have to add)
Detroit (picking 12th overall so they would for sure have to add)
New York (picking 11th overall so they would for sure have to add)
Anaheim (picking 8th overall so I think they might have to add)
Buffalo (picking 7th overall so I think they might have to add but not sure)

Don’t think anyone higher in the draft order would be interested in Andersson as he likely doesn’t fit the direction that those teams are heading in. The teams I listed above are either trying to get out of the rebuild or trying to avoid one. Trading for Anaheim or Buffalo’s first round pick gets the flames within range of potentially drafting Frondell, O’brien or McQueen. Not sure if it’s worth the risk or but the flames have plenty of depth players and complimentary players in the system. If they can snag a centre with the potential to be a top line or second line centre, it might be better to use the 18th overall + Andersson to acquire quality instead of quantity.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

CAR might be a darkhorse destination for Andersson. With Burns likely to retire, they’ll need help at RD. They have their 2025 1st rounder and 2x 1st rounders in 2026. They don’t have any C prospects to speak of, but if Conroy is desperate for C in that 22-25 range, Kotkaniemi fits the bill. Though that just opens up a big hole at C for the Hurricanes, especially with Staal’s career winding down. Plausible trades are hard.

They do have Nikishin coming in already.

[madmike]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Not sure if there is a team fit as far as a buyer but what if the flames offered a package like this at the draft:

Andersson (50% retained for next year) and extended
18th overall pick in 2025 draft (from New Jersey)

Is that enough to get a top 10 pick in the draft? Is it paying too much for a top ten pick especially in a draft that’s not considered to be as good as other recent drafts? Not sure if that package fits many teams with high picks this year even. I’m including the New Jersey pick because teams value draft picks so much at the draft. I’m trying to come up with a trade that gets the flames a pick in the top 10 and it’s becoming very rare for that kind of trade to happen. Maybe this is not the best draft to do it but it’s so difficult to ever get a trade done for a top ten pick and the flames are about to run out of players that could potentially be part of a package to get that done (and that the flames are willing to trade) - I think Andersson is likely the last vet that the flames look to trade that returns a first round pick (at least for a few years).

I could see maybe one of the following being willing to trade their pick but doubtful Andersson would waive his NTC for some of them let alone sign an extension:

Utah (picking 14th overall so they would for sure have to add)
Columbus (picking 13th overall so they would for sure have to add)
Detroit (picking 12th overall so they would for sure have to add)
New York (picking 11th overall so they would for sure have to add)
Anaheim (picking 8th overall so I think they might have to add)
Buffalo (picking 7th overall so I think they might have to add but not sure)

Don’t think anyone higher in the draft order would be interested in Andersson as he likely doesn’t fit the direction that those teams are heading in. The teams I listed above are either trying to get out of the rebuild or trying to avoid one. Trading for Anaheim or Buffalo’s first round pick gets the flames within range of potentially drafting Frondell, O’brien or McQueen. Not sure if it’s worth the risk or but the flames have plenty of depth players and complimentary players in the system. If they can snag a centre with the potential to be a top line or second line centre, it might be better to use the 18th overall + Andersson to acquire quality instead of quantity.

Most drafts it would likely be enough to move up, but not this one. After the top-10, the talent drops off.

There will be some good players in there, but there isn’t really a big difference between 11 and 32. You could likely even extend that 32 into the second round. So those top 10 picks are more valuable than usual.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I would have much higher expectations than that.

1) This is not a trade deadline deal for only a few months
2) Hanifin and his agent nuked his trade value by restricting the trade to a couple of teams
3) Retention can allow just about any team (other than the Stars) to fit Andersson into their salary cap for 1 year before they have to pony up
4) A contract extension could be included as a part of the trade
5) There is a big market for RD and not a lot of options available for the next couple of summers, especially for players who are proven to be able to play top line minutes

I doubt the return will be as good as I am hoping for but I believe there is a good chance that it is better than either the Hanifin or Tanev trades.

I don’t think he will more than the Hronek and first Chychrun trade. Only getting Tanev value would be bad though.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Any word if there was an injury?

Was playing with a broken Fibula for his last 12 games.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

They do have Nikishin coming in already.

He’s LD. Presumably he’ll take over Orlov’s roster spot.

[GioforPM]

Someone is going to want a full year of that cheap 4.55M salary. And a shot at signing an $8M deal.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Was playing with a broken Fibula for his last 12 games.

I was hoping for a more long term injury. He was playing like he was injured for about 70 games.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Someone is going to want a full year of that cheap 4.55M salary. And a shot at signing an $8M deal.

I believe a trade before July 1st make him eligible for 8 year deal.