NHL Trade Rumors: Is Toronto Maple Leafs planning to acquire Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson?

Following last week's trade of Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks to the Minnesota Wild, the major NHL trade has sent shockwaves through what had been a mostly stagnant trade market. This move prompted other teams to look for players and acquire them. Amidst this chatter, one significant name that has been doing the rounds is Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson’s trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As per reports, Andersson is eligible for UFA status next July. The 29-year-old is no closer to a contract extension and is expected to be dealt by the March 6 NHL trade deadline. It is important to note that Andersson signed a three-year contract with the Flames on Sept. 15, 2015, and played one more season in Barrie. He again signed a six-year contract with Calgary on Jan. 8, 2020. Andersson was named an alternate to captain Mikael Backlund on Oct. 7, 2023, and to Sweden's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off during the 2024-25 season.

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is at the centre of their trade chatter

The buzz around trade speculation for the Calgary Flames has grabbed the attention, as they are on the halfway mark of the 2025-26 NHL season, and the March trade deadline is knocking on the door. According to various sources, several veteran players, particularly defenseman Rasmus Andersson, are drawing interest. It has come to light that the Toronto Maple Leafs are planning to acquire the Flames defenseman.

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, he reported that the Flames received an increase in calls regarding Andersson following the Hughes trade. He indicated the Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to acquire the Flames blueliner at last season's trade deadline and have recently revisited their interest.


The NHL insider claimed that the Maple Leafs are among the clubs the veteran defenseman is willing to sign with, provided a trade could be worked out. He has also mapped out that the relationship between Andersson and Leafs GM Brad Treliving has a previous bond, which might have something to do with this trade.

Reports suggest that when Treliving was the GM of the Flames, they chose Andersson in the second round of the 2015 NHL draft, and he signed the blueliner to his current six-year contract.

Meanwhile, Kent Wilson of the Calgary Sun considers Andersson to be the top defenseman in the trade market now that Hughes is off the block. He doesn't expect the Flames to get something comparable to what the Canucks received for Hughes (three young NHL players and a first-round pick), but Andersson should still fetch a good return for the Maple Leafs.

Also read: Leon Draisaitl's wife Celeste Desjardins sends a heartwarming message as Oilers star reaches 1000th NHL point | NHL News - The Times of India