As the NHL offseason heats up and trade rumors swirl, the Calgary Flames find themselves at the center of a brewing storm—one that could reshape their roster in ways few fans anticipated.

Whispers have grown louder, and the tension is palpable among players and management alike. Yet, amidst the usual speculation, a single candid interview has sent shockwaves through the hockey world, hinting at a seismic shift within the Flames’ defensive lineup.

For years, Rasmus Andersson has been a cornerstone on Calgary’s blue line, anchoring the defense with skill and consistency. But now, a surprising revelation from within the team has cast doubt on his future in a Flames jersey.

The source? None other than captain Mikael Backlund, whose recent comments have left fans and analysts scrambling for answers. What exactly did Backlund say, and how did this admission slip out so unexpectedly?

As the hockey community tries to piece together what’s really happening behind closed doors, questions abound: Is a blockbuster trade truly imminent?

Could this be the end of an era for Andersson in Calgary? And what does it mean for the team’s ambitions this season? The answers may be closer than you think—but only if you keep reading.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The least that can be said is that Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund doesn’t hold his tongue.

I don’t remember ever hearing something like this, coming from an NHL player and about his own teammate, but Backlund really did outright announce a pending trade on defense.

Mikael Backlund announces that Rasmus Andersson is going to be traded

It slipped out, and I get the impression he’s going to regret that one, but it’s really what he said in an interview.

So expect Andersson to be traded before the start of the season..

In an interview with Michael Russo (The Athletic), Mikael Backlund mentioned this.

“Yeah, he’s getting traded. It’s obvious,” Backlund said at the NHL player media tour in Europe. “But the team wants value. He wants a big contract. So he wants to play well. The team needs him to play well. So, just go out and play. I talked to him, too, and he doesn’t want to be a distraction. So it’s all good. It’s too bad it’s come to this. I don’t think that they’re close to getting an agreement or anything, but you never know. Things could change. We’ll see.”

Mikael Backlund

Let’s just say that doesn’t leave much room for interpretation.

Everything indicates that he has played his last game in a Flames uniform.

“At the heart of several trade rumors since the beginning of the summer, Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson will definitely be changing addresses sooner or later, according to the team captain, Mikael Backlund.”

TVA Sports

Andersson’s name had been linked to the Montreal Canadiens last season, but following the acquisition of Noah Dobson, that can clearly be ruled out.

That said, his teammate Nazem Kadri could certainly be an interesting pickup for Kent Hughes.

Rasmus Andersson, 28 years old, is a right-handed defenseman, 6 feet 1 inch and 202 pounds, who was a second-round pick of the Flames in 2015.

He has accumulated 231 points in 536 career NHL games, and he recorded 31 points in 81 games last season (39 points, 49 points, and 50 points in the three previous campaigns).