Why a Rasmus Andersson trade now looks even tougher for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
A new update from TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reveals a new roadblock in the Toronto Maple Leafs' pursuit of Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
Employing a lineup that has underperformed on the blueline with a league-worst 65 goals against, Toronto needs an improvement on the backend especially with anchor Chris Tanev out for an undetermined period of time.
Several analysts and scouts such as Jay Rosehill and Teemu Lassila have discussed recently that the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have interest in Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
So while we are seeing a bit of smoke emerge, is there a trade incoming?
According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, that seems extremely unlikely right now.
Why Dreger believes Andersson to Maple Leafs is unlikely possibility
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger appears to have thrown a bit of cold water on the fiery speculation and doesn't believe a deal is imminent.
Appearing on the Barn Burner podcast on Nov. 13, Dreger gave his two cents regarding the Andersson to Maple Leafs chatter, and noted that the team's going to have difficulty acquiring him considering they've failed to in the past:
I can tell you with certainty [Treliving] thought they were close on a Rasmus Andersson trade at the trade deadline; if you couldn't acquire [him] at the trade deadline, how are you getting him now?
Dreger brings up a realistic perspective for the Maple Leafs. The team lacks a surplus of assets that can be traded, having dealt them away for other pieces in past deals.
With reports that the team was close to acquiring him last year but settled on Brandon Carlo instead, it suggests the potential price for the Swedish defender was likely higher than the Fraser Minten and 2026 first-round package.
Toronto has to decide between their future or saving their season
In addition to his comments about Andersson, Dreger also noted previously that the Maple Leafs' quest to improve their defense is going to cost them several impact names such as Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan, and Ben Danford:
They don't have the assets to go out and swing for the fence, because if you're looking for a top 4 defenseman, guess who they're asking for: Knies, Danford, Cowan, a 1st in '28. They don't have a cupboard full.
They really don't have a ton of premium assets, and and with recent reports also linking them to the market for a top-six forward, they are going to have to hold onto something to get that potential future deal done.
It's a hard pill to swallow for fans to see the Maple Leafs continually mortgage their future year after year as they try to make a deep playoff push.
We've seen how Fraser Minten has grown in Boston, and while the jury is still out on Nikita Grebenkin, there is no doubt he was a fan favorite who gained a cult following in his short time with the team.
Is that worth giving up again for the chance at success?
With how things are going this season, and without a clear path to improvement, if the team wants to add a player like Rasmus Andersson -- who could turn things around; it's going to cost more than Toronto can potentially afford -- but that hasn't stopped them before.
At this rate, the team risks missing the playoffs altogether, let alone repeating as Atlantic Division champions, and unless they make a move - be it Andersson or another player - it's hard to see how much changes in the short term.
It's a tension between protecting their future and trying to salvage this season, and Toronto has to decide how far they're willing to go.
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