Flames use new cap space to give Andersson huge raise

The Calgary Flames have signed defenseman Rasmus Andersson to a six-year contract extension on Wednesday night. 

The 23-year-old blue liner and the Flames agreed to a deal averaging $4.55 million annually, starting next season. This is a significant raison for Andersson, who is in the last year of a three-year entry-level contract that pays him $863,333 annually.

The Flames were expected to use the cap space that was freed up when they traded Michael Frolik to the Buffalo Sabres last week. 

Andersson is expected to be getting a bigger role on the roster, especially if pending unrestricted free agents TJ Brodie or Travis Hamonic don’t re-sign in Calgary. 

Andersson has just 135 games of NHL experience since making his Flames debut in 2017, but has managed to impress the club management. He has three goals and 12 points in 45 games while averaging a career-high 19:14 of ice time with the Flames this season.

He was drafted in the second round, 53rd overall by Calgary at the 2015 NHL Draft, with the pick the Flames acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for Sven Baertschi.