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Flames trade rumours: What could a Rasmus Andersson trade with the Vegas Golden Knights look like?
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Photo credit: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 15, 2026, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 15, 2026, 09:55 EST
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The Vegas Golden Knights are a natural landing spot for Calgary Flames’ defenceman Rasmus Andersson.
With Alex Pietriangelo out for the season, the Golden Knights need a second-pairing right-shot defenceman, a role that is well suited for Andersson. The Knights’ interest in Andersson has been well known, as it was reported early in the off-season by The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that Andersson would be willing to sign an extension with the Golden Knights.
While he’s a fit for the Golden Knights, they don’t have a whole lot to offer the Flames. It doesn’t help that Andersson has had a strong first half of the season, scoring 10 goals and 29 points in 46 games and has arguably been the Flames’ best player.
The last trade between the two teams came before the 2024 trade deadline, as the Flames sent Andersson’s former defence partner, Noah Hanifin, to the 2023 Stanley Cup champions for Danill Miromanov, a conditional third round pick in 2024 (Kirill Zarubin), and a 2026 first-round pick which is unprotected. One down side of a potential trade with the Golden Knights is that it’d make them better, thus increasing the chances of that pick being pushed further down the draft board. 
The trade had additional caveats, as Hanifin immediately signed an extension with the Golden Knights, while the Flames retained 50% of his salary for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, and the Philadelphia Flyers retained an additional 25%, something which isn’t allowed anymore. It’s a good framework for a trade, as Andersson’s full cap-hit doesn’t quite work.
As it stands, the Golden Knights have a little over $4.267 million in cap space, with Andersson coming in at a cap hit of $4.55 million. The Golden Knights could make roster moves to make it work, but Adin Hill and his cap hit of $6.25 million is on long-term injured reserve, and once coming off, he’d push them well above the cap, barring any additional moves.
Unlike in previous years, the Golden Knights have a bit of draft capital available. This summer, they’ll have their second and third round picks, as well as a pick in all seven rounds in the 2027 draft, including the first-rounder. Had the Golden Knights won a round in the 2024 playoffs, the 2024 third would’ve become the 2025 second.
On the prospect side of things, the Golden Knights farm system is one of the worst in the league. Coming into the season, Trevor Connelly ranked as Daily Faceoff’s best prospect for the team. Through 11 American Hockey League games, the 19-year-old has three goals and seven points.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, their second-round pick in 2025, may be the best fit for the Flames. Listed as a 6’2”, 184 lbs right-shot centre, the Australian-born, Swedish-based forward has eight goals and 19 points in 20 games with IF Björklöven, a team in Sweden’s second tier (HockeyAllsvenskan).
A young player on their roster who could be of interest is winger Braeden Bowman. The undrafted player has played 29 games with the Knights this season, scoring six goals and 15 points in 29 games as potting seven goals and 12 points in 12 American Hockey League games. On defence, Kaedan Korczak has played 45 games this season, with the 24-year-old scoring three goals and 11 points.
Due to the Golden Knights constantly buying at the deadline or during the off-season, their prospect pool is barren, but their upcoming draft picks could be available in any potential deal. Perhaps a trade similar to the Andersson deal from two years ago could work, say their 2027 first, their 2026 third with the condition that if they win two rounds, moves to the second round in 2027, and a later round pick?
Ideally, the Golden Knights aren’t the team the Flames trade Andersson too, as it has a strong chance of making the 2026 first-round pick they have from the Golden Knights drop on the draft board. That said, if Andersson is willing to sign a long-term extension with the 2023 Stanley Cup champions, it may be the best move available.
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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