Rasmus Andersson?
Should the Red Wings trade for a top-four defenseman?
The Detroit Red Wings have been very popular lately.
Between their 11-3-1 stint in January and their rumored interest in several players, NHL media has been abuzz about Hockeytown. In fact, Elliotte Friedman shared a recent tidbit about Quinn Hughes on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, where he revealed that Detroit was the destination Hughes had hoped to arrive.
This has, for some reason, upset a few people that aren’t Red Wings fans.
One of the biggest dealbreakers in the would-be Hughes trade involved Simon Edvinsson. Anyone that’s watched the Wings for more than five minutes this season recognizes the team’s need for a top-four defenseman. Trading one top-four defenseman and a slew of picks and prospects for Hughes doesn’t plug that gap. Hughes is, of course, an upgrade over Edvinsson, but the trade wouldn’t solve any problems.
The other dealbreaker, as reported by Friedman, was the lack of a contract extension. But what if I told you there was a top-four defenseman available that could potentially sign an extension today?
Allow me to introduce you to Rasmus Andersson:
Who is Rasmus Andersson?
Rasmus Andersson is a 29-year-old Swedish defenseman for the Calgary Flames. You might recognize him as the guy who got hit by a car before a game two years ago. Andersson is, in no hyperbolic terms, the best defenseman on the Flames. Part of this is due to the team’s roster. The rest of it, however, rests on Andersson’s play.
The guy has a nose for the puck. He leads all defenseman for the Flames with 29 points in 46 games. While these numbers might not seem earth-shattering, it’s important to note that the Flames have a -21 goal differential — good for fourth-last in the league. The fact that Andersson can keep those numbers so high is testament to his offensive ability. Take a look at this clip where Andersson absolutely takes over in the offensive zone:
The Red Wings have struggled with finishing throughout most of this season. They rank among the lower third of teams in finishing percentage in the NHL. Getting a guy like Andersson would drastically improve their ability to generate offensive threats, especially during 5v5 situations.
Oh, and did I mention he’s a certified dawg?
Counterpoint: We have Andersson at home
It’s important to recognize what Andersson is just as much as what he is not. If you’re expecting him to be this Quinn Hughes-tier defenseman that will overhaul your entire defensive corps, I’m gonna need you to temper your expectations.
Think of Andersson like a Filip Hronek-type defenseman (remember him?). He’s being asked to punch well above his weight by playing first-pairing minutes. On the Wings, he’ll have a little more freedom to do what he does best: score and generate some offense.
This, of course, leads to the elephant in the room: don’t we already have one of those?
Axel Sandin-Pellikka has been asked to do a lot this season. He’s playing top-four minutes with a defensive partner who, despite his solid season thus far, is not a top-four defenseman. Thus, ASP is often caught out of position. There are times he blows coverage or pinches too hard. Still, he’s making fewer mistakes each passing day.
This leads me to my next point: would getting a guy like Andersson eat into ASP’s time on the power play? Would it damage his chances of playing to his strengths? Andersson is, by all accounts, passable in his own zone. But he’ll be 30 by the time his hypothetical extension kicks in. Would signing Andersson help or hamper ASP’s development? On one hand, two offensive defenseman on one pairing could create a knockoff Lane Hutson-Noah Dobson combo. On the other…
Well, that’s how things like this happen.
The cost of doing business
Now we come to the big ask: what would it take to get New Ras in the Winged Wheel? Andersson is a second pairing defenseman playing first pairing minutes. He’s got plenty of utility on the power play. To top it all off, he’s due for an extension. What should Wings fans expect to give up in the process?
I’ve seen everything from a 3rd round pick and William Wallinder to a 1st and Nate Danielson offered up in hypothetical trades. My guess is the answer lies somewhere in the middle. A guy of Andersson’s caliber in a trade market bereft of defensemen will likely be a slight overpay. If I had to play the guessing game, you’re looking at a 2nd round pick and a prospect of some kind. Maybe a 1st, depending on the prospect.
If they’re on the hunt for more immediate help, Albert Johansson or even Erik Gustafsson could provide some stopgap depth defense. But, if I had to guess what Calgary wants, it’s young talent. The answer could come in the form of Anton Johansson or Shai Buium, two young defensemen having great seasons with their respective clubs. Ultimately, the onus will fall upon the Flames and whether or not Andersson would be willing to sign an extension.