B/R NHL Trade Block Big Board: September 2024 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy is restructuring his roster by shipping players in the final year of their contracts and replacing them with younger, affordable prospects. Last season, he traded three key defensemen, Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks, Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars and Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Rasmus Andersson has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $4.6 million and a six-team no-trade list, but some Flames fans are wondering if the 27-year-old defenseman could follow Zadrov, Tanev and Hanifin out of Stampede City.

On August 15, a reader of The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie asked about Andersson’s trade value as a top-four defenseman. He believed the Flames would only move the defenseman for the right price, adding that his play this season would determine his value at the trade deadline. McKenzie believes it would take an irresistible offer to pry Andersson away from the Flames.

That extra year on Andersson’s contract could make that offer irresistible, especially if the Flames are out of the playoff race by the trade deadline. Suitors might be willing to pay more for a top-four, right-handed defenseman who can get two postseason runs out of them instead of one.