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The Sven Bärtschi trade tree expanded with the Rasmus Andersson trade
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 23, 2026, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 23, 2026, 10:20 EST
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The Calgary Flames have a nice trade tree blooming.
On Sunday, the Flames traded Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. In return, the Flames received two players and two picks: National Hockey League defenceman Zach Whitecloud, defence prospect Abram Wiebe, a 2027 first-round pick that is top-10 protected, and a 2028 second-round pick that could end up being a first if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.
Two things contribute to a long trade tree, plenty of assets and good drafting. The Flames already got the assets part done, but Craig Conroy has shown a terrific job with drafting since taking over ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Look no further than two trades ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, the Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm trades. From just those two trades, the Flames have nine assets currently in the organization, including two NHL players (Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost), as well as a 2026 first-rounder from the Golden Knights. Those two trades are part of the larger Curtis Glencross trade tree from more than decade ago.
Well, with the Andersson trade, a small tree has started to blossom as well.
On Jun. 24, 2011, the Flames stepped up to the podium with the 13th overall pick. They used it to select Portland Winterhawks product Sven Bärtschi, who had 34 goals and 85 points in 66 Western Hockey League games heading into his draft year. His draft stock was aided by scoring 10 goals and 27 points in 23 post-season games.
Bärtschi’s junior production only increased, despite playing 19 fewer games in 2011-12. Overall, he potted 33 goals and 94 points in just 47 games, with 14 goals and 34 points in 22 playoff games. That season, he also earned a look in the NHL, scoring three goals in five games.
Turning professional full-time in 2012-13, the Bern, Switzerland native scored 10 goals and 26 points in 32 American Hockey League games with the Abbotsford Heat. He also got a longer look with the Flames that season, scoring three goals and 10 points in 20 games. In 2013-14, Bärtschi played 41 games in the AHL and 26 games in the NHL, finishing the year with two goals and 11 points.
Again, Bärtschi didn’t get that much of a look in 2014-15, picking up four assists in 15 games, as he played the majority of his season with the Adirondack Flames of the AHL. On Mar. 2, 2015, the playoff bound Flames cut bait with the Swiss forward, sending him to the Vancouver Canucks for a second.
Bärtschi only played five games with the Canucks in 2014-15, three in the NHL and two in the AHL, but broke out with increased playing time. From 2015-16 until 2018-19, Bärtschi scored 56 goals and 106 points in 216 games, but a concussion derailed his career as he suffered from post-concussion syndrome. The Swiss product played just another seven NHL games, as well as another three seasons in the AHL and one with Bern SC in Switzerland in 2022-23, before retiring.
For Bärtschi’s production with the Canucks from 2015-16 until 2018-19, the draft pick the Flames acquired had to be used to select an NHL player, and it was. With the 53rd overall pick in 2015, the Flames selected Andersson.
Before his trade on Sunday, Andersson played parts of 10 seasons with the Flames, scoring 57 goals and 261 points in 584 games. During the Flames’ incredible 2021-22 season, he scored four goals, but added 46 assists to give him a career-best 50 points. Since then, he’s reached the 30-point mark in each of the last four seasons, including scoring double-digit goals in three of the last four seasons.
In 2025-26, Andersson was on pace for a career year, as he had 10 goals and 30 points in 48 games. Over a full 82-game season, that’s on pace for 17 goals and 51 games. While the Golden Knights acquiring him will potentially lessen the value of the 2026 first rounder acquired in the Hanifin deal, it’s clear that this was the best available package for Andersson with an extension involved.
And the Flames have a chance to quickly expand the trade tree. According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Flames have already received interest regarding Whitecloud. They’d be wise to flip him as soon as possible, as he’s an affordable defenceman (cap hit of $2.75 million) with term (contract expires after 2027-28), who also plays strong defence on the right side. That type of defenceman has the potential to land a solid haul ahead from a contender.
Who knows who the Flames will pick with the two picks they received, or if the 2028 second will turn into a 2028 first-rounder. Wiebe has the potential to play in the NHL as a bottom-pairing guy, and his development will be interesting to see.
That said, with Sunday’s trade, the Bärtschi trade has officially become a trade tree. Let’s hope it blossoms into a big one for the Flames.
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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