Flames ready to pull the trigger on blockbuster trade

The Calgary Flames may not be calling it a rebuild, but their actions are starting to say otherwise, and veteran defenseman Rasmus Andersson could be the biggest domino to fall.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Flames are actively eyeing a major move involving the 27-year-old defenseman, and the timeline is already set. Speaking on The Big Show before the Christmas break, Seravalli made it clear Calgary doesn’t want this situation lingering.

“I know for certain the Flames would like to try and make a move with Rasmus Andersson somewhere between the holiday freeze ending and that Olympic freeze [Feb. 4] beginning,” Seravalli said. “I don’t think they wanna leave this to the other side of the Olympics.”

That window matters, and clearly Calgary, it seems, wants clarity fast, ahead of the trade deadline, which will be just around the corner once the game returns from Milan.

Andersson has been a cornerstone on the Flames’ blue line for years, logging heavy minutes in all situations and wearing an “A” as an alternate captain. But with Calgary stuck in the NHL’s murky middle, not bad enough to bottom out, not good enough to contend, holding onto high-value assets indefinitely makes less and less sense.

If the Flames are serious about reshaping their future, Andersson represents exactly the kind of player contenders would line up for: right-shot defenseman, prime age, proven playoff performer, and signed at a reasonable cap hit. That combination doesn’t come cheap and Calgary knows it.

Over the weekend when speaking about Andersson, David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period mention some teams that might have given general manager Criag Conroy a call in Calgary:

“I still think he’s getting moved; we know the usual Dallas and Vegas suspects, we know Toronto’s kicked the tires; I could see LA getting back into that discussion.”

The question now isn’t if the Flames move Andersson, but how aggressive they’re willing to be in pulling the trigger. What will be the asking price: a package of picks and prospects, or something that accelerates a longer-term reset?

According to Pat Steinberg and Seravalli, the Flames could be asking for “a 1st & a good prospect/equiv. of two 1st’s” or a “quality over quantity” prospect.

What’s obvious is that Calgary doesn’t want this hanging over them into February. With the holiday freeze now lifted, expect the Flames to turn up the heat, and don’t be surprised if Andersson is the centerpiece of one of the season’s biggest trades.