The Golden Knights paid a lot to get Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. In sending a 1st, 2nd, a prospect, and Zach Whitecloud while having 50% of Andersson’s salary retained in Calgary, Vegas expected a dominant game-changing defenseman to add to their already star-studded defense corps.
Andersson showed that at times, and he was clearly a major factor in the Golden Knights’ turnaround from a 39-win team to a Western Conference Championship. However, in some moments, including one massive one in the Final, he fell short, and the Golden Knights paid for it.
Game 2, I lose the puck behind the net and they end up scoring. I think about that quite a bit, what I could have done better personally. It’s one of those things. It sucks, but at the same time, you’ve got to look yourself in the mirror and know what you can do better next time. -Rasmus Andersson
It was a tumultuous year for the 27-year-old Swede. He made it clear last summer that his time in Calgary was coming to a close soon. So, from the moment the season began, he knew he’d probably be playing for another team in the near future.
That day came on January 18th, and began a rollercoaster ride he wouldn’t step off of until mid-June.
He and his wife, along with their two young children, left behind the only place they’ve known during his NHL career to begin anew in Vegas. Less than a month later, he was off to Milan for three weeks to play with Team Sweden at the Olympics. He did not have the same experience as many of his teammates, though. As he was a healthy scratch in all but one game, when Andersson returned, he was clearly frustrated with how it went. That bled over into his play with the Golden Knights.
Yeah, if I just look at the regular season, I struggled after the Olympics. Those 12 games after the Olympics, I played pretty bad. And then after that, I kind of found my rhythm. I mean, the last 15 games in the regular season I thought I played extremely well. -Andersson
The numbers back up his assessment. In his first 22 games with the Golden Knights, he scored two goals and seven points. He was a -6 and VGK went 8-12-2. In the final 11 games, he scored five goals and 10 points, was a +7, and Vegas rattled off a 7-1-3 mark to win the Pacific Division.
Andersson’s strong play continued into the playoffs, especially in an area he’s been most maligned for.
Honestly, the first three rounds I think I defended the best I’ve done in my career. -Andersson
Vegas had turned into a defensive juggernaut, limiting the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche to just seven goals in a four-game sweep, and Andersson was a massive part of that.
Then, a few days before participating in the biggest games of his life, Andersson learned that his long-time agent, and close friend, Claude Lemieux, had taken his own life.
Mentally I was a little off during the Final after what happened, but there’s just no excuses and I know next time I’m in a Final I need to be better. -Andersson
There’s plenty that went wrong for Andersson in his first season and postseason with the Golden Knights. And with it will understandably come some apprehension about the incoming mega contract he’s expected to sign in the next few weeks. But if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, it’s Rasmus Andersson.
Life threw more at him in the last six months than it does most players over their entire careers. Inconsistency wasn’t just expected, it was inevitable.
Andersson is as self-aware as any player you’ll ever find. He understands where his game slipped, he knows what needs to be better, and he has shown he can respond. With his honesty and naturally outgoing personality, there is every reason to believe he will settle in, find more consistency, and be everything and more that the Golden Knights thought they were getting when they acquired him less than a year ago.
Abdullah
The massive hope is that he’s gone
rb7
the Vgk fans need to stare down and thumbs down any new megadeal for Andersson.
Let him walk.
bring back Whitecloud.
vgkfaninpahrump
He looked slow in the final, I wonder if its because he’snever had a long playoff run?
Id keep him if term is under 6 years & pay under 8 million.
Pistol Pete
Ok I missed your post. You support keeping him under $8m. I agree. My bad. Was grouping you with the others who place no faith in the judgement of management (assuming they do sign Andersson). Just so you know, this site is full of posters critical of the FO. If you are new here you would not know this. Posters are entitled to criticize the moves of the FO. Everyone is entitled to say what they want. No problem. I personally choose to not question their judgement because they have done a lot to make the franchise a success. You don’t have a good franchise with a lousy FO. Pretty obvious imo.
larry
Pete, I am one of the posters that is critical, and one must remember we all have opinions and outlooks of what we perceive to be right or wrong, and thats what makes this country and this site great.
With every asset that was spent to acquire who and what we acquired, I actually have always been in agreement with KEN, that the ONLY thing that would make it all worthwhile would have been to win 16 playoff games and lift the Stanley Cup, anything short of that, while was a great ride, ultimately leaves a bitter taste having lost all those future assets that could have been draft picks or trade options.
John Brown
6 million for 4 years, and not a penny more
Knights fan in minnie
He stinks
knights fan in minny
You stink
rb7
the best path to cap compliance and team improvement is to say goodbye to Hill and Andersson.
vgkfaninpahrump
It’s worse than that.
They’re loaded with NMC/NTC.
The bottom third of the roster has no trade value beyond a middle round pick.
There are 2 players on the finals roster & 2 in the system (both of them are what passes for “top prospects” in Vegas) that are toxic to other teams, it’s going to be hard moving them.
Pistol Pete
We’ll see what they do but so far every single post is questioning the judgement of McPhee and McCrimmon assuming the decision is to sign Andersson. Really, the skeptics are more qualified than their collective wealth of experience in building NHL rosters, not to mention their deep experience in playing NCAA division one hockey plus McPhee had a credible run in the NHL? I don’t think so but hey Lehner was a misstep so was Tatar and to a lesser degree Dadonov. Andersson could become another. So who knows the skeptics could be right. On the other hand the collective decision making of this management has brought this franchise unprecedented success over the last nine seasons with the most playoff game wins and series wins of any team.
Of course I will support signing Andersson if that is the call. If so then somehow swing a trade for Larkin with Pav as the main piece plus whatever else. I would take Larkin for Pav if that is what they want to
do. Maybe that is not in the cards? We shall see.
knights fan in minny
Rasmus should take 6 mil a year Be happy he is in a tax free state Beautiful weather a winning atmosphere every year What more do you need If you want more money then hit the road
Pistol Pete
I thought he was penciled in for around $6m I mentioned that before guessing he should be under Theodore and Hanifin but yet the most recent gossip is $8.5 and that disappoints me. Still though if they give him that I have to trust it’s the right call with the cap going steadily up every year. Whatever they agree to I just hope there is enough room for Larkin.
Seems he’s the center Marner needs now especially with Karlsson aging out and increasingly injury prone. Plus this will be the last season with Stone @ $9.5. With his next extension if he gets one health permitting will come a cap savings.
Pistol Pete
Even with Larkin there will be room for Matthews or McDavid come 2028-29. Cap projected to be $19m higher plus Stone and Karlsson will be gone and Hertl signed through 2029-30 will be two more years come 2028-29. Larkin as 2C with Marner would be a huge piece. You could even trade Hertl to create the cap space for Larkin and slot Howden in as 3C. With Pav gone and Howden moved to C top six to nine winger depth gets skimpy but if there is a way to do Larkin they will do it is my call.
knights fan in minny
Wow talk about getting ahead of yourself
vgkfaninpahrump
“so far every single post is questioning the judgement of McPhee and McCrimmon”
Cult creepy dude. Just weird.
I can see why this website isn’t bigger and easier to find. Great articles but the posters are bizarre.
Pistol Pete
Karlsson turns 34 next January. Whatever the hell his issue was that kept him out about the whole season. That is troubling because as far as we know he had no surgery. If he could just become healthy truly healthy again the guy could have several serviceable seasons remaining but frankly one has to be skeptical of that the last three seasons: 14 games 2025-26, 53 games 2024-25, 70 games 2023-24 (2022-23 was 82). The downward trend is concerning.
Knights fan in minnie
I’d like better punctuation
knights fan in minny
Wow quite the dream you got going there
Pistol Pete
All the best players in the league if they are not winning a Cup, Vegas is where they want to come. If you are a star looking to make a run in the playoffs this is the spot for you. Great weather, Summerlin a high end spot for the wealthy, great owner, winning culture, great group in the locker room, great practice facility, great arena. The superstars are secure here. Players in between less so but is it not the same elsewhere? Call us the most hated team in the league but everybody not on a cup winner wants to be here. Ask Jack Eichel he said as much in his season ending media. Pretty good gig if you ask me.
knights fan in minny
Too many stars too many big Egos don’t work
knights fan in minny
The trades are heating up again William Ecklund To Ottawa and Jordan Kyru To Washington
Pistol Pete
“Golden Knights owner Bill Foley launching NBA Las Vegas bid”
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49147109/golden-knights-owner-bill-foley-launching-nba-las-vegas-bid
The team would be intended play at T-Mobile and if that came to pass would end the long debate on the many proposals for a separate NBA Vegas venue.
Abdullah
Eichel should be traded
Howard
You’re totally wrong. The modern nhl game needs true dmen that can carry the puck out of the zone, and not offensive minded over- pinching dmen. This was evident during the season and cup finals. Hill isn’t a bad tender, neuther is Hart, but our piss-bad dcore, with only one real puck mover (Theodore) made them look a lot worse than they are. Hellenbuk would look just as bad with the current dcore.
Furthermore, you force Eichel, Marner, and Karlsson to work too hard defensively – relying on them to move puck before neutral zone – theyll wear out trying to win a cup, as also evident this year.
Leonard Wise
I agree with adding Larson need a center for Marners line. Karli has not shown the ability to stay healthy. Wouldn’t mind Hertal going as well. As for Anderson doesn’t matter what I think he will be resigned or McPhee will look like an idiot.
rb7
WOW folks…..the prices have gone WAY UP
let me show you the projected contract value or demands for a few players of note for the Vgk fans.
this is from AFP Analytics, which is a key source that NHL agents use.
===================
Notable 2026 UFA and Other Projections
AFP Analytics also estimates market values for upcoming UFAs and other notable players, noting that the thin UFA class may drive RFA prices higher due to offer sheet leverage:
Alex Tuch: Projected at $10.1 million AAV (7 years).
Rasmus Andersson: Projected at $8.7 million AAV (6 years).
Pavel Dorofeyev: Recognized as a potential offer sheet candidate, with projections around $9.0–$9.5 million AAV, reflecting his career year and prime age.
Pavel Dorofeyev: Long-term $9.0 million AAV (6 years); Short-term $6.2 million AAV (2 years).
======================
the NHL bargain basement is long gone.
Andersson at 8.7 for 6 years?
hej då, pal
that means goodbye.
TS
Rb7, to bolster your point, Doro asked for TOO much, and he’s gone. He just wasn’t worth it. $11 mill yr?? Did HE see how he played overall??
JoeInHendo
Andersson had six months to prove he’s worth the hefty price VGK is willing to pay him. He failed that test, in fact, he’s the main reason the Knights lost their momentum and came up short when they were on the cusp of grabbing a stranglehold in the SC Finals. I don’t understand doubling down and massively rewarding a recently added player who proved nothing and cost VGK their second championship. Let him walk.
larry
I will not win any popularity awards by saying I totally agree with you on this, lets take our huge loss on this and move on.
Further this piece on Andersson was a totally fluff piece, using and building excuses for him, all players traded have been uprooted from the stability and regular life patterns.
Hyman Roth tells Michael Corleone, “This is the business we’ve chosen”, and this is the business and lifestyle of a hockey player, and in Andersson’s case it is reputed he wished to be traded here, so all the baggage needs to be left at the curb, as difficult as it might be cause he is supposed to be a professional above all else.
steve
Im thinking that was a little harsh overall about #4 but possibly deserved too, none of us knows what its like to be traded. fired or quit a job sure but has to be different, but its true have to be and act like a professional. I did like the Gdfather analogy though.
Knights fan in minnie
Probably time to fire Craig
rb7
AFP analytics had it pretty damn close . they said 10.1
Alex Tuch has been traded to Wash Caps in a sign and trade
he gets 8 yesrs at 10.5 aav