Reporter Links Versatile Flames Defenseman to the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski - Imagn Images
Reporter has the Toronto Maple Leafs linked to star defenseman from the Calgary Flames as the team is expected to be very active this summer.
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs did a great job at shoring up their back-end last season, you can always look to upgrade at such an important position, and it sounds like there should be plenty of options on the block this summer.
One name in particular that has drawn a lot of interest is Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. The top-pair blue-liner has been on the block since the Flames commenced their rebuild, but the price has remained high.
The Leafs have good reason to be interested, considering the Flames are Brad Treliving's old team and he'd be very familiar with the players.
The versatile defenseman was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by Treliving and this would not be the first time that he's been interested in a reunion.
Prying him out of Calgary isn't going to be easy. However, that brings us to Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon's latest piece on Andersson and five potential landing spots, where he believes Toronto would be one of them.
"Any chance Calgary would look at Morgan Rielly as part of a return? It sure feels like the longest-tenured Leaf - who holds full no-movement protection - could benefit from a scenery change, and removing him from the books would help with keeping Andersson around long-term."
Why Acquiring Rasmus Andersson Might Be Difficult For the Toronto Maple Leafs
Andersson will be playing in the final year of his contract in 2025-26 at a modest cap hit o just $4.55 million dollars. The Flames have a ton of cap space, but it doesn't sound like they're overly enthusiastic about extending him long-term based on their future plans.
The Maple Leafs don't have the draft capital that would entice Calgary at the moment. Toronto is also not stacked with prospects either as Easton Cowan remains the crown jewel of their pipeline.
Unless Morgan Rielly would be willing to waive his NMC, Treliving would have to get creative should he seek out a deal for Andersson. He's coming off the heels of a 31-point season, but is only a few years removed from 50 and 49 point campaigns, respectively.
He has all the intangibles that the Leafs are looking for, but it remains to be seen if they have the trade pieces and capital that would entice Calgary over some of the other interested parties.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 9 | 4837 ANSWERS Reporter Links Versatile Flames Defenseman to the Maple Leafs Would you part with Easton Cowan if it meant landing Rasmus Andersson with an extension attached? | ||
| Yes | 1665 | 34.4 % |
| No | 3172 | 65.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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