Rasmus Andersson on leaving Flames for Golden Knights: 'This is a Real Contender'

Saturday, January 24, 2026 ,

Rasmus Andersson was traded over a week ago from the Calgary Flames to the Vegas Golden Knights, however, due to visa issues, hadn't appeared in a game until Friday night in Toronto. Andersson couldn't be more thrilled with the move, and was happy to hit the ice with his new teammates, on a team that he feels has a legit shot at winning it all.

"You look at the lineup, that’s a real contender, and that’s what I wanted to go to," Andersson said. "I've had a great time in Calgary, I've loved every second of it. I can't say good enough things about that organization. But at the same time, I think it was time for them and it was time for me to try something different."

Andersson was all over the ice in his first game as a Golden Knight, playing a new role as a depth defenceman instead of leading the charge for the Flames. He finished the night playing 21:33 of ice-time, chipped in with one assist, and blocked three shots.

The Golden Knights made light work of the Maple Leafs in a decisive 6-3 win. Andersson spent 10 seasons with the Flames organization, but you could tell this felt like a breath of fresh air for him to have a new lease on live with Vegas.

While adding Andersson boosts their blueline, it sounds like Vegas continues to weigh their options on the trade market and could make another move to add a top-nine forward. In Calgary, it's a much different story as they are way out of reach of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and GM Craig Conroy is fielding calls on several players, including Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman.

Photo credit:  Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
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