'He's Getting Traded': Flames Player's Comment Puts Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs on Alert
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Rasmus Andersson has been subject to rampant trade rumors recently, although according to teammate Mikael Backlund, a trade is all but assuredly going to happen.
The speculation about Rasmus Andersson staying long-term for the Calgary Flames has been something that has started since the summer began and really hasn't slowed down in the weeks that followed.
Calgary would love to keep him, but they are going to take a bit of a wait and see approach before rushing to either an extension or a trade.
Well, according to Flames center Mikael Backlund, the latter is all but inevitable.
What Mikael Backlund Said About the Rasmus Andersson Trade Situation
Speaking on the NHL's European Media Tour, the veteran pivot was blunt in his assessment of the Andersson situation, and feels things are going to end in due time:
Yeah, he's getting traded. It's obvious. But the team wants value. He wants a big contract. So he wants to play well. The team needs him to play well. So, just go out and play.
I talked to him, too, and he doesn't want to be a distraction. So it's all good. It's too bad it's come to this. I don't think that they're close to getting an agreement or anything, but you never know. Things could change. We'll see.
I talked to him, too, and he doesn't want to be a distraction. So it's all good. It's too bad it's come to this. I don't think that they're close to getting an agreement or anything, but you never know. Things could change. We'll see.
That's a stunning turn of events considering that signs pointed to Calgary was going to fight hard to keep him, and was only going to trade him away if they needed to wave the white flag.
It's something that Backlund believes won't happen, and he believes in his core group of players to lead them to the playoffs, even as an underdog:
I feel like the group we had last year was really good. Great bond, close group. Everyone bought into the way we play, and we're going to have to do that again. Buy into it. And the standards are higher this year than last year.
Why Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs Can't Afford to Ignore It
If the writing is on the wall in Calgary for Andersson, then former Flames and current Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving needs to get a potential framework together as soon as possible.
It's going to be tough to put together a package that will blow Calgary out of the water, but it's possible the team gives them a young stay-at-home defenseman in Ben Danford, on top of perhaps Nick Robertson, another prospect like William Villeneuve or Cade Webber and their 2028 first.
Is that an overpayment on Treliving's behalf, especially without a guaranteed extension from Andersson?
Potentially, but what you're bringing in to the team is someone who is one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, who can still bring a good chunk of offense; and provides Morgan Rielly the greatest partner he's ever had.
A revamped blue line with Rielly, Andersson, McCabe, and Tanev in tow is a very, very scary group not only because you have so many shutdown defenders but Rielly's able to utilize more space knowing he has a lot more insurance behind him.
That might just be enough to keep teams like Tampa Bay and Florida at bay, and he could be the difference between a second round collapse, or a much needed Conference Finals appearance.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 27 | 1019 ANSWERS 'He's Getting Traded': Flames Player's Comment Puts Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs on Alert Should Toronto trade for Rasmus Andersson? | ||
| Yes | 633 | 62.1 % |
| No | 386 | 37.9 % |
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