Rasmus Andersson’s time with the Calgary Flames came to an end on Sunday afternoon.

Craig Conroy shipped the Swedish Olympian to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2027 first round pick, a conditional 2028 second round pick, Zach Whitecloud and Abram Wiebe.

Here are eight thoughts on this blockbuster deal.

1. Overall, the Flames did a good job with this deal. We have to keep in mind that they are trading Andersson as a rental, which brings down his value on the trade market. To get a first and second round pick along with a good NHL defenseman is some nice work by Conroy.

Should the Flames have traded Andersson in 2024 or at the 2025 trade deadline? I think so. Mainly because if you moved him back then, the conversation about Andersson needing to sign an extension would have never happened. In theory, the Flames could have got more had the acquiring team got to have Andersson for two or three playoff runs, not one.

But overall I think Conroy got a solid return considering Andersson was a rental.

2. The biggest effect a Rasmus Andersson trade was going to have on the Flames was going to be in the standings this season. The Flames are cooked without Andersson, their best player this season.

But what I didn’t see coming was the Flames acquiring a guy like Zach Whitecloud in the deal to help replace Andersson’s minutes.

Whitecloud is a solid NHLer who is going to play top four minutes at 5-on-5 and the penalty kill.

This puts a small dent in the hopes of team tank and their desire for the Flames to finish as low as possible in the overall standings.

Don’t get me wrong, the Flames aren’t going to make the playoffs, but I don’t think they are going to fall off a cliff without Andersson like I thought they were going to without Whitecloud.

3. If the Flames were a smart, forward thinking organization, they would flip Zach Whitecloud for a draft pick or two at this years trade deadline. Whitecloud, who makes $2.75 million for the next two seasons, will have some value on the trade market. Especially when you consider that the salary cap is rising significantly over the next couple years.

4. The Vegas Golden Knights are the high school bully of the Flames. They have a history of getting what they want and stealing the Flames’ lunch money.

Calgary is in the mix to trade for Mark Stone in 2019? Not anymore. He’s going to Vegas.

The Flames are one of the favourites to trade for Jack Eichel? Not when Vegas is involved.

Noah Hanifin is available for trade? Vegas acquires him for pennies on the dollar.

And now Vegas swoops in at the last minute and acquires the Flames best player as a “rental.” But we all know Andersson is going to sign an extension there.

5. It sounds like the Calgary Flames have acquired an excellent person in Zach Whitecloud. There are a lot of Golden Knight fans who are upset to be losing Zach Whitecloud, the person. The Flames talk a lot about leadership and culture, I think it’s fair to say Whitecloud is going to be an excellent addition to the team in that regard.

6. The Calgary Flames have a logjam on defence. It feels like they are going to have to make a trade to open up some space for Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz.

LD: Kevin Bahl, Yan Kuznetsov, Joel Hanley

RD: MacKenzie Weegar, Zach Whitecloud, Hunter Brzustewicz, Brayden Pachal, Zayne Parekh

Zach Whitecloud, Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal are all names that should be shopped between now and the Mar. 6 trade deadline. Not all three need to be traded, but the Flames should at least be listening to offers on those players.

7. Speaking of Zayne Parekh. Does the acquisition of right-shot defenceman Zach Whitecloud change the plan for Parekh? Where does Parekh fit in this defence core?

Is Ryan Huska actually going to give Parekh a regular shift ahead of any of Weegar, Whitecloud, Brzustewicz, and Pachal? With the OHL no longer an option for Parekh, it’s going to be fascinating to see how Huska balances ice time for all of the right shot blueliners.

8. How do you look back on Rasmus Andersson’s time with the Flames?

For me, he was one of the best defencemen in Flames history. Andersson embraced being a Calgary Flame through and through. On the ice, he was a fierce competitor who have 100% every time he was on the ice. He could score goals, put up points, block shots, and hit everything in sight. Off the ice, Andersson was a great spokesperson for the Flames and the city of Calgary. He played a role in the community representing the Flames in multiple charity endeavours.

I wish nothing but the best for Rasmus in Vegas. I hope he has a ton of success.

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