You knew that it was inevitable. The Vegas Golden Knights were going all-in on Rasmus Andersson and finally got him, acquiring him for Zach Whitecloud, a 2027 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected), a 2027 conditional second-round draft pick that becomes a first-round pick IF Vegas wins the Stanley Cup this year, and prospect Abram Weibe, per Elliotte Friedman.
The move was first reported by Darren Dreger and it gets the Golden Knights another solid depth piece on the blue line. This season, Andersson has 10 goals and 20 assists, making him one of the more underrated defensemen in the NHL. The Swedish star also has 90 blocked shots this season, adding a defensive oomph that Kelly McCrimmon and Bruce Cassidy will appreciate.
Andersson to Vegas with 50 per cent retained
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 18, 2026
Return:
Whitecloud
2027 1st
2027 2nd, becomes a first if Vegas wins Cup this year
Abram Weibe, a defenceman at UND
As for Whitecloud, parting is such sweet sorrow with the defenseman. He's played 368 games with the Golden Knights in eight seasons, scoring 23 goals and 55 assists, along with five playoff goals and 12 playoff assists in 78 playoff games. On top of that, he has 602 hits, 575 blocks and a Stanley Cup.
It should be noted that Vegas retains 50% of Andersson's salary, making his cap hit only $2.275 million. As for the Golden Knights, well, it doesn't surprise many fans since McCrimmon tried acquiring him during the summer. Now, he officially has his big fish.
The Vegas Golden Knights edge out the Boston Bruins for Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, signaling that Kelly McCrimmon is going all-in
If you didn't hear the news surrounding Andersson, numerous contenders were in on the Swedish defenseman. That included the Boston Bruins, who couldn't get an extension done, and the Dallas Stars.
Ultimately, it was the Golden Knights who prevailed, bolstering their blue line in a two-way sense. They got a player who can clog lanes and add more to the special teams recipe, making Vegas much more potent.
As for Whitecloud, it seemed inevitable that the Stanley Cup champion would be moved. Rumors surrounding his future whereabouts floated around him like a dark stormcloud, leaving him in an uncertain spot. Now, he gets his chance to prove himself with the Calgary Flames, giving the team a solid back-end defense.
Still, you know that Kelly McCrimmon isn't one to shy away from a move. He made the biggest splash on Sunday, acquiring one of the better puck-moving defensemen from the Calgary Flames. Before you know it, fans will be looking for that second Stanley Cup and prepping for another Toshiba Plaza party.