NHL Rumors: Frank Seravalli gives an update on prominent Golden Knights trade target

It seems like it's been forever since the Vegas Golden Knights have been linked to Rasmus Andersson. The Calgary Flames defenseman has expressed a strong desire to either join the Golden Knights or the Dallas Stars. One would think that a trade is about to unfold at some point.

Well, Frank Seravalli shed some light on the Andersson rumors. The Flames are letting people know that now's the time to get those final offers on the table, with some interesting deals on the table.

The possibility of an extension before the Olympics is also on the table, specifically since he's participating in the event. There's a good reason for that, too. Andersson is quickly becoming one of the better defensemen in the NHL.

This season, Andersson has 10 goals and 19 assists, with six assists on the power play. Defensively, he's also valuable, providing 88 blocked shots and 18 takeaways. It's easy to see why the Swedish Olympian is desired by so many contenders.

He provides a two-way game that works well in many facets. That includes the even-strength attack and the power play, making any team dangerous. Just imagine what the Golden Knights could do if they could get their hands on him.

Looking closer at a Rasmus Andersson trade for the Vegas Golden Knights

There's an obvious need for another defenseman for the Golden Knights. When you lose Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore for some time, that leaves a massive void on the blue line. In turn, it puts the goaltending in peril, leaving them exposed to high-danger chances.

But that also involves bolstering the unit's depth. Since Alex Pietrangelo stepped away from hockey activities due to hip-related issues, the Golden Knights haven't had much luck with filling his skates. It's been a constant reshuffling of the lineup, with Cassidy looking for plausible long-term answers.

Granted, that's a tall task to ask for a potential Hall of Fame player. Pietrangelo put in the best effort possible to deter plays and was an excellent two-way player, whether on the backcheck or on the power play.

While Andersson won't replicate Pietrangelo as a player, his presence adds plenty of depth. Now, the Golden Knights can run pairs of Theodore-McNabb and Hanifin-Andersson. That provides more muscle on both ends of the ice, making Vegas much better. So, what could a deal look like?

Now, you could add Zach Whitecloud or another lower-tier defenseman to the mix and clear up space on the blue line. After all, Vegas is high on Kaedan Korczak and what he brings to the table. Add the tenured blue liners to the mix and the lower-tier guys make perfect sense (don't take it from me since these are hypotheticals). But you can bet that Kelly McCrimmon is keen on keeping the price as reasonable as possible.

It's that time of the year when the Golden Knights are in the mix for the biggest names. You know that McCrimmon is rubbing his hands together, preparing for another deal. That could come sooner than people think, putting the Golden Knights in a better position.

Boy, isn't it good to be the king?