Flames Rumor: 1 Team Has Been Given Permission to Talk Extension With Rasmus Andersson

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson stretches before a game

The Rasmus Andersson Saga in Calgary is close to coming to an end. According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Calgary Flames have reached out to teams around the NHL, and asked for everyone's most serious offer. And after that process, one team has risen to the top.

Friedman has named the undoubted frontrunner in the trade sweepstakes, citing the Boston Bruins, who have been given the go-ahead to work out an extension with the veteran defenseman:

I believe they are the only team that has been given permission to talk to Andersson, and I do believe they've done some pretty significant extension talks... The Bruins are not believed to be interested in this without an extension.

Friedman then named the other suitors, referring to the Vegas Golden Knights' current offer as not being as strong as the Bruins'.

"But the thing that Vegas has is that they like Andersson, and he likes them." He feels if the player got to July 1 still unsigned, "they would have a great chance to get him... But right now, their offer is not seen, from what I'm hearing, as strong."

Others Friedman notes as still in the mix include the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Andersson, 29, is in the final year of a six-year, $27.3 million contract ($4.55M AAV), and is in line for a huge extension. He's having a superb year in Calgary, with 30 points in 48 games, a +3 rating, and a career-high 24:14 average ice time logged per night.

The Flames have other names that have made the rounds on the trade market, including Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman, but the Andersson issue is front and center, with a deal likely going down before the Olympic Break in the next week or two.