Why The Calgary Flames Are Unlikely To Trade Top Defenseman

With all due respect to those suggesting Rasmus Andersson is a player the Calgary Flames will move before the NHL trade deadline, it's a bit surprising there isn't more chatter about the franchise re-signing one of the team's most important players.

It's true that the 28-year-old defenseman is arguably the Flames' ultimate trade chip this year. With another season on his absolute steal-of-a-deal contract still on the books after this one, the longtime Flames asset would fetch a hefty return. You're not going to find many 40-50-point blueliners with term on their contract and under the age of 30 being dangled.

Oh, and he's got the coveted right-handed shot.

On top of those details, Andersson absolutely hates to lose, is one of the most accountable player in the locker-room. A vocal assistant captain, he also tries to lead by example on the ice.

Plenty to offer another team. No doubt.

But all of those elements to his game and personality are also what make him so valuable to the Flames that they must consider locking him up to a free-agent type deal before he gets to that status.

Of course, the Flames can't do that unless Andersson is willing to stick around. There's no doubt he is fond of Calgary, and that's how he'd likely answer any question related to his future with the Flames. But the late Johnny Gaudreau and recent opponent Matthew Tkachuk said the same thing — and their positions at the time of their departure from Calgary were not dissimilar from the situation Andersson finds himself in now.

Andersson has known no other pro organization, coming up through the ranks of the AHL affiliate, where current Flames head coach Ryan Huska helped hone Andersson into the competitor he is today. That connection bodes well for a continuation of the relationship.

At the same time, Andersson isn't going to sell himself short on what would be a massive payday as an unrestricted free agent. As a top-pairing defenseman averaging nearly 25 minutes a night, Andersson has a shot worthy of the powerplay, but can also absorb minutes on a penalty kill if needed. There's a reason he's the Flames' only member of a 4-Nations Faceoff roster for February's best-on-best tournament.

The Flames are in a transitional season, focused on a youth movement and what most would call an on-the-fly rebuild. It's no secret Flames GM Craig Conroy is in the market to trade for a franchise center that can help them grow into a Stanley Cup contender. If Andersson can fetch that return, they'd likely consider it.

However, Andersson's departure would love a monumental gap on the back end. MacKenzie Weegar and Kevin Bahl — Andersson's current partner — are solid players. Brayden Pachal was deserving of his new extension as a high-end and reliable bottom-pairing guy. Daniil Miromanov and Jake Bean are serviceable top-four fill-ins but not anchors on a championship core.

Without Andersson, the team is less dynamic and toothy. He's the kind of player and presence so many NHL franchises are looking for.

Given the franchise's current standing as a team contending for a playoff spot, it would be tough to justify anything more than selling off looming unrestricted free agents like Andrei Kuzmenko, Tyson Barrie, Joel Hanley and maybe netminder Dan Vladar.

Andersson might be a name to consider on the trade market a year from now if he isn't interested in extending. Otherwise, he should be a Calgary Flames lifer.

Related: What Would Nazem Kadri Fetch On The NHL Trade Market This Year?