CALGARY — The beginning of the end didn’t happen in a rink, a meeting room, or a contract negotiation.
It happened at a wedding.
Four days away from last summer’s NHL Draft, Rasmus Andersson was celebrating his best friend’s big moment when his phone buzzed with the call that cemented the notion his days with the Flames were numbered.
A trade was lined up, the Los Angeles Kings wanted him, and the Flames were ready to move him. But Andersson, still recovering from a difficult season and unsure where, or if, he wanted to commit long‑term, wasn’t ready to sign.
“I told Connie (Flames GM Craig Conroy), ‘I understand the business side of it, and you have a great offer for me, but at this moment if you really want to trade me I’ll give you a list of seven teams that I would re-sign with,’” said Andersson of the sobering news that his ten-year ride with the Flames organization would be coming to an end.
“I was close with a couple teams after that, but they couldn’t figure out next year. It went into July and every time my phone rang I thought, ‘is it time?’ After July 15, I didn’t hear anything, so when I went back to Calgary, I just wanted to focus on what I could control.”
Speaking for the first time about the seven-month saga that led to a 4-for-1 trade to Vegas two weeks ago, the ever-candid defenceman detailed in an hour-long phone interview an emotional journey filled with patience, professionalism and a level of transparency rarely seen from a player in his position.
It also included three of the toughest days of his career leading up to last month’s swap.
The emotional wall he hit came mid‑January when an apparent deal, complete with the framework for what Elliotte Friedman reported was a seven-year extension worth $63 million in Boston, muddied his mind during a Flames road trip through Chicago.
“The offer came in with a few parts adjusted I didn’t like with trade protection, and then there was another three days of hearing nothing,” said Andersson, who then suited up against the Islanders for what he, and many others, assumed was his final home game as a Flame, as he high-fived every teammate and saluted the crowd afterwards.
“It was a mental grind for me for three days. You keep checking your phone, and wondering when it’s going to happen, and then I woke up Sunday and I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore, I have to focus on myself and not everything around me.’ I was still pretty proud of the way I played those two games, but on Sunday (Jan. 18) we told them, ‘let’s hold off on all extension talks right now.’”
Four hours later, he was traded.
While visiting with a neighbour, Andersson’s phone buzzed six times in succession. Each text he scrolled through included the word Vegas.
He checked X, which confirmed he was a Golden Knight.
“Half an hour later, Connie called, and I answered the phone saying, ‘Really? You trade me without even calling?’” he joked, as he knew trade confirmation was being held up by the league.
“Me and Connie have that relationship, so we chirp each other all the time. I said, ‘I hope you got something good for me,’ and he said, ‘we’re happy with the package.’ All I hope is that it works out for both teams.”
The playful barbs between Andersson and his GM about his future played out in front of teammates all season long, as the Swedish blue liner continually made light of the Flames’ early contract offer he chose not to counter. He knew that with MacKenzie Weegar signed long term, and prospects Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz tagged as building blocks on the right side, there was no point pretending there’d be room at the Inn for a 29-year-old in search of his rightful payday.
Out of an abundance of respect for the organization that drafted and developed him, Andersson felt strongly about being a good soldier throughout the process, upping his value with his play, while being honest with Conroy as he opened the possibility of signing extensions with seven teams.
One of the biggest influences on how he handled the uncertainty was Chris Tanev.
“I remember with Tanny, we were out of the playoffs and he told me, ‘they’re going to trade me now,’” said Andersson, who only had a six-team no-trade clause.
“I really appreciated him telling me that. So I came into the season saying I’m going to keep it honest with these guys, and I did the whole way. I told them everything that was happening.”
Ongoing speculation on his future never became a distraction, which is a credit to him.
Still, as always seems to be the case with Andersson, there were bound to be critics.
As a mass consumer of social media, Andersson saw suggestions he handcuffed the Flames by not signing an extension to up the trade return.
“How?” he said, rejecting the notion outright.
“They got a first-round pick, a second-rounder that could be a first if we win the Cup, plus they got a prospect and a good player in this league for many years who won the Cup with (Zach) Whitecloud. I think it’s a really good return for the Flames, and hopefully I can make it a really good return for Vegas.”
Then came the mock apology, which is pure Andersson.
“I’m sorry I’m no Quinn Hughes, where you get eight first-round picks,” he chuckled.
“I’m not that player. I think I’m one of the most realistic guys there is. I don’t know how much these people want for me.”
Although thrilled to be looking ahead, he hopes when looking back, fans remember the effort.
“I hope the fans know I gave my all every game, even though last year I had a s— year,” said Andersson, who has bounced back to have the best year of his career.
“I broke my leg and I still tried to battle through it so we could make the playoffs. I hope they can remember me for leaving it all on the ice.”
He loves Calgary. He loves the fans. He loved being a Flame.
“I hope everyone knows how much I love and respect the organization and all my time there,” said Andersson, who started listing names of on and off-ice folks he misses already.
“I’m really grateful for my time there. The organization has done so much for me. I’ve been with them for so long, and I’m so grateful to have gotten a chance to call pretty much everyone in the organization a really good friend.
“At the same time, hockey-wise, they are moving in a different direction from my age, so I think it was time for me to move on and time for Calgary to try something different. I think everyone agrees with that. That’s the business side of it.
“All I hope is my teammates can say I was honest the whole way, which I think they would. I was honest with the organization with the extension stuff.”
“Hopefully I won’t get booed when I come back.”
He won’t.
At least, he shouldn’t.
Unless, of course, he finds a way to punctuate a goal at the Dome next year with his patented stare-down of a fan.
“It’s kind of my signature,” he laughed when asked if his steely goal celebration will continue.
“It’s fun for everyone around it. A lot of people seem to hate it too, which makes me want to do it even more.”
Vegas was indeed one of the seven teams he told Calgary he’d sign with last summer, and he’s ecstatic to join a team hellbent on challenging for another Stanley Cup. He’s open to the possibility of extending his stay.
He’s still living out of a hotel, his family is back in Calgary, and his life is in transition as he prepares to join Team Sweden at the Olympics.
“Honestly, it’s been a crazy couple weeks,” said Andersson, making good on promises to tell his side of the story.
“And I’ve got lots to look forward to.”
