In this past few months this fall, the Los Angeles Kings and new general manager Ken Holland have been linked to 30-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson in the West. Andersson was rumored and reported to have turned down a trade option with the Kings in LA a few months ago this past offseason in the summer of 2025.
Los Angeles Kings shouldn't trade for defenseman Rasmus Andersson this regular season
The Athletic's Pierre Lebrun and Chris Johnston gave their trade deadline predictions for this upcoming year in 2026 in a couple of months. Lebrun and Johnston both pegged the Pacific Division in the West as the likely destination in this conference this regular season for Andersson from the Flames in Calgary.
Lebrun said that he felt like the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division was the best destination that made the most sense for Andersson from the Flames. Johnston had the Kings as his pick for the best destination for Andersson on the trade block at the deadline next spring in the Pacific Division.
"The Kings remain a sensible destination; what isn’t clear is whether Andersson would consider signing an extension with the Kings after he showed a reluctance to do that in the last offseason."Chris Johnston
If the Kings were to hypothetically trade for Andersson from the Flames this regular season at the deadline, he would need to be willing to commit to signing a contract extension deal in the next few months in the West.
Trading for Andersson from the Flames wouldn't help the Kings improve the active roster lines on offense for the forward group this regular season in the Pacific Division in the West. The Kings need help offensively putting the puck in the net in the zone.
Holland and head coach Jim Hiller have bigger needs to address on the active roster group on the blue line on defense and scoring the puck offensively in the West this regular season.
The hypothetical asking price to trade for Andersson from the Flames would be pretty high for the Kings this regular season.
The Kings and Holland either need to commit to improving the active roster lines with a top-six forward who can score the puck at a high level and play alongside center Quinton Byfield and winger Adrian Kempe or move toward rebuilding the franchise.
Another reason why it doesn't make much sense that the Kings would hypothetically trade for Andersson from the Flames from Calgary is the fact that the blue line is already strong on defense for Los Angeles. The Kings and Hiller have depth and young talent on defense on the blue line this regular season in the West, including Drew Doughty, Brandt Clarke, Mikey Anderson, and Henry Brzustewicz in the developmental system for the team.