'Nothing is done until it's done': Elliotte Friedman reveals Maple Leafs in the mix for Rasmus Andersson
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
With the news that Rasmus Andersson is likely on his way out of Calgary, Elliotte Friedman reports that the Maple Leafs are still in the mix despite earlier musings.
It very well could have been Rasmus Andersson's last game at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday as he put in a strong performance amidst heavy trade speculation that will likely see the veteran defender dealt elsewhere.
But where that ends up is anyone's guess, and while there were reports previous that Boston couldn't get Andersson to compromise, a change of heart means that there's another team in the mix as the list of potential destinations grows longer.
Maple Leafs still in for Andersson; Boston leads the pack
Despite their late interest in the defenseman, it seems they may end up having the best shot -- according to Elliotte Friedman.
Friedman was on Sportsnet's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast and during his Saturday's Headlines segment, went further into detail regarding Andersson and the Bruins:
Emotional at the end of the game, like the way he came out of the ice, high-fived his team, he was third star, there was a lot there. And I think everybody's kind of wondering where this is going to go.
The team that appears to be in the driver's seat, although nothing is done until it's done, is Boston.
Boston is very serious about its offer, and nobody's confirming or denying this, but I believe they are the only team that has been given permission to talk to Anderson, and I do believe they've done some pretty significant extension talks.
The team that appears to be in the driver's seat, although nothing is done until it's done, is Boston.
Boston is very serious about its offer, and nobody's confirming or denying this, but I believe they are the only team that has been given permission to talk to Anderson, and I do believe they've done some pretty significant extension talks.
It's a huge turnaround because it was only a couple days ago when Boston fielded an offer but were rebuffed due to Andersson's unwillingness to extend.
Since that's changed, it means that now Boston jumps to the front of the line leaving other teams scrambling; though Friedman did note that the Maple Leafs aren't out of the race yet:
Vegas is there. It's not believed that their offer is as strong as Boston's, but that's for now. That can always change. But the thing that Vegas has are that they like Anderson, and he likes them.
I think Dallas has been around there. I think Toronto's been around there. And I'm always worried after what happened with Quinn Hughes going to Minnesota, that there's teams out there that I'm not seeing.
But right now, from what I can tell, and I think this is true, Boston is the only team that has permission to talk to them.
I think Dallas has been around there. I think Toronto's been around there. And I'm always worried after what happened with Quinn Hughes going to Minnesota, that there's teams out there that I'm not seeing.
But right now, from what I can tell, and I think this is true, Boston is the only team that has permission to talk to them.
With Friedman's report, it seems like the Maple Leafs are going to have their hands full if they want to bring in Andersson but there's still some hope.
How can Toronto actually bring in Rasmus Andersson if they're truly dead set on him
Brad Treliving isn't shy about mortgaging his future if it means bringing someone in, and Andersson had previously noted an extension in Toronto won't be an issue.
So if he feels like Andersson is the piece to not only help replace Chris Tanev, but put the team in a better spot going forward and looking towards the playoffs -- he could pull the trigger.
But what does that even entail? Well for starters, Ben Danford has to be going the other way. Then you get into whether or not Calgary wants that first-round pick which they likely do; and they'll need roster help too.
So that leaves the potential for names like Bobby McMann, Matias Maccelli or even Easton Cowan getting packaged together to bring him aboard. As we've seen before, this is a very hit or miss situation and history's not too kind to Toronto.
That's pretty much the only thing Treliving can do. The supposed package from Boston includes Mason Lohrei, Matt Poitras and Toronto's 2026 first-round pick for Andersson.
It's hard to beat that, and with the fact they get a young, towering and offensively gifted defender, a young center with legitimate NHL talent, and a first-rounder in a fairly strong draft class? Near impossible unless you're stripping your team.
While the Maple Leafs are very much still steering the path towards a Rasmus Andersson deal, there's a runaway black and gold bulldozer ready to rush to the front of the pack and Toronto won't be ready to withstand the impact.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 18|1100 ANSWERS 'Nothing is done until it's done': Elliotte Friedman reveals Maple Leafs in the mix for Rasmus Andersson Will Boston end up winning the Rasmus Andersson sweepstakes? | ||
| Yes | 276 | 25.1 % |
| No | 824 | 74.9 % |
| List of polls | ||