Rasmus Andersson's Trade Market Hinges on Bowen Byram Outcome, Vegas Among Teams Monitoring

For weeks now, it has seemed as though the Calgary Flames were on the verge of trading star defenseman Rasmus Andersson, but as of yet, no type of deal has come to fruition.

Whether that's from a lack of interest, a lack of a good offer that has blown GM Craig Conroy away or another reason, we now know one key piece of the puzzle that has held the team back from making a deal.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, it's Buffalo's Bowen Byram that's holding things up, as he reveals that the Flames are waiting for the resolution on Byram to take advantage of the lack of defensemen available on the market and cash in with a big deal.

While the two play on different sides and are at different points in their career, the interest around the league in one will go up exponentially if the other is either extended or moved elsewhere, and according to Pagnotta, it appears as though that's what Calgary is hoping for.

As of right now, teams like Vegas, Dallas, Carolina and Detroit all have some level of interest in Andersson, and if the Flames can be patient, the resolution on Byram could force those teams to up their offer and not get outbid by others on a potential trade offer.

Ultimately, there's likely a very low chance that Calgary head into the 2025/26 season with Andersson on their roster, so if Byram's situation doesn't get resolved soon, their hand may be forced, but at this point in time, being patient can only be a good thing for Conroy and the Flames.