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Flames trade rumours: What could a Rasmus Andersson trade with the Carolina Hurricanes look like?
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Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jan 18, 2026, 13:15 ESTUpdated: Jan 18, 2026, 11:58 EST
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It seems like the Rasmus Andersson trade is almost upon us.
On Saturday evening, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Boston Bruins are in the driver’s seat, but that can change rather quickly. Another team that could acquire Andersson’s services are the Carolina Hurricanes, as Frank Seravalli reported that the Eastern Conference team makes sense on Jan. 13’s edition of Flames Talk.
There’s a lot to like about a potential trade with the Hurricanes, as they have the assets to pull it off, unlike the Vegas Golden Knights. While they lack their own first round pick; it was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Mikko Rantanen last season, they have the Dallas Stars’ first round pick in the other Rantanen trade. They’re a little light for 2026 draft capital outside of the first, but the Hurricanes have all of their 2027 and 2028 picks, as well as two first-round picks in 2028.
They have a solid prospect pool as well, according to Daily Faceoff’s pre-season rankings. Their best prospect by far is Alexander Nikishin, a left-shot defenceman who is playing his first full season in North America. Through 48 games this season, the 24-year-old has six goals and 20 points in 48 games, but landing him is a bit of a pipe dream.
A more obtainable prospect than the defenceman would be Daily Faceoff’s second-best Hurricanes prospect, Bradley Nadeau. The winger has had a cup of tea in the National Hockey League, scoring twice in 11 games. In 26 American Hockey League games, he has 12 goals and 30 points, after scoring 32 goals and 58 points in 64 AHL games last season.
Felix Unger Sörum is another prospect who could benefit from a trade to the Calgary Flames. Last season in the AHL, the Norwegian-born Swede scored five goals and 20 points in 61 games. Through 35 games in the AHL this season, he has eight goals and 28 points. Like Nadeau, Unger Sörum is a winger.
One of the Hurricanes’ weaknesses in their prospect pool are centres, which also happens to be the Flames’ biggest need. After drafting two centres in 2021, Justin Robidas and Nikita Guslistov, the Hurricanes didn’t draft another proper centre until 2025, when they used two seconds to select Charlie Cerrato and Ivan Ryabkin. Both players have regressed a bit in 2025-26.
As for fit, Andersson would be a great addition for the Hurricanes. Thanks to a 30-15-14 record, the Hurricanes sit first in the Eastern Conference and second in the league, but adding a right-shot defenceman for their top pairing would be huge. 
According to Daily Faceoff’s line combinations, the Hurricanes’ right side of their defence consists of Sean Walker, Jalen Chatfield, and Joel Nyström. Adding Andersson, who has 10 goals and 30 points in 48 games this season, gives the Hurricanes a legitimate top pairing option.
Andersson’s cap hit isn’t even close to being an issue for the Hurricanes. They can easily absorb the $4.55 AAV, as they have about $16.744 million in cap space as it stands, with no players on long-term injured reserve. The Flames wouldn’t need to retain 50% of Andersson’s cap hit as it’d cost the Hurricanes more in terms of trade assets, but if the Raleigh-based team wants to make additional moves, it could be an option.
On Friday’s Barn Burner, Darren Dregor noted that the Flames are looking for a first-round pick and a NHL-ready prospect. Could Andersson be moved for the 2026 first the Hurricanes have, as well as either Nadeau or Ungar Sörum?
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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