Report: Golden Knights acquiring Andersson from Flames

The Calgary Flames are trading defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

In return, the Flames receive veteran blue-liner Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, a top-10 protected 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick that becomes a 2028 first-rounder if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup this season, reports NHL insider Frank Seravalli.

Calgary is also reportedly retaining 50% of Andersson's $4.55-million cap hit.

Andersson, a pending unrestricted free agent, was arguably the top defenseman available ahead of the trade deadline. A contract extension is not part of the trade, Dreger adds. However, it was reported in the offseason that Vegas was Andersson's preferred destination.

The 29-year-old has recorded 30 points in 48 games for the Flames this season while averaging a career-high 24:14 per contest. It's his fifth straight campaign averaging at least 22 minutes per game.

As a right-shot defenseman, Andersson will help fill the void on Vegas' blue line left by Alex Pietrangelo, who announced in the offseason that his playing career is likely over. Andersson has a chance to reunite with Noah Hanifin, his primary defense partner with the Flames in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The Golden Knights acquired Hanifin as a pending UFA prior to the 2024 deadline, then signed him to a eight-year extension just over a month after the trade.

Whitecloud is a stay-at-home, right-shot defenseman. The 29-year-old has spent all eight of his NHL seasons in Vegas, helping the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023. He's under contract through 2027-28 with a $2.75-million cap hit.

Wiebe, 22, was a seventh-round pick by the Golden Knights in 2022. The left-shot defenseman stands at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds. He's recorded 14 points in 24 games at the University of North Dakota this season.

The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly among the other teams to show interest in Andersson this season.