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Top Swedish Defenseman Emerges as Prime Trade Target for Canadian Team
Top Calgary Flames Swedish defenseman Rasmus Andersson has emerged as a top offseason trade target of the Ottawa Senators, per David Pagnotta.
The Ottawa Senators are eyeing Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson following word that blueliner Nick Jensen had surgery last week.
Jensen had a lower-body procedure in New York that was successful, but nobody knows when he'll return.
Although Jensen sounded positive in his exit interview that he'll be back for training camp next September, the Senators appear to be considering depth on defense.
Ottawa is targeting a top-four, right-handed defenseman with puck movement and scoring ability, NHL insider David Pagnotta writes. Andersson is the man for the job, especially if his Calgary situation becomes uncertain.
"Even with him (Jensen) back in the lineup at the start of the season, they still want to shore up that right slot position, bringing somebody mobile that has a little bit of offense to him," Pagnotta said on The Fourth Period's The Latest.
"Rasmus Anderson is a guy to watch out of Calgary entering the final year of his contract, those negotiations don't go well. The flames will try to move him in and around the draft. So that's somebody that's high on Ottawa's list."
"Rasmus Anderson is a guy to watch out of Calgary entering the final year of his contract, those negotiations don't go well. The flames will try to move him in and around the draft. So that's somebody that's high on Ottawa's list."
A trade could potentially materialize around the NHL Draft in June
Andersson, 27, has a year remaining on his six-year, $27.3 million contract. In the event that negotiations for an extension with the Flames fail, he is a significant trade target for the Senators around the time of the NHL Draft.
"We'll see kind of where they end up going but they've got some cap space they want to build off of the success this season and strengthen their roster. Wouldn't be surprised if they narrow something down," David Pagnotta added.
A second-round pick in 2015, Andersson has played his entire nine-year NHL career with Calgary. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged over 22 minutes per game and scored 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points.
The Senators made the playoffs this year by winning the Eastern Conference's first wild card, but lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games.
| POLL | ||
MAI 27 | 96 ANSWERS Top Swedish Defenseman Emerges as Prime Trade Target for Canadian Team Will the Senators manage to trade for Rasmus Andersson? | ||
| Yes | 41 | 42.7 % |
| No | 55 | 57.3 % |
| List of polls | ||