Some people aren't the biggest fans of Rasmus Andersson getting a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. They were disappointed in his lackluster playoff performance during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and weren't as amused when he underperformed during the regular season.
But that isn't stopping him from expressing his gratitude for joining the Golden Knights. On Tuesday, he told the media about his sincerest appreciation for joining the Western Conference champions, keeping it to three short, concise sentences.
"Ever since I got traded here, I’ve loved it. Couldn’t be happier. We really fell in love with the city, as well."Rasmus Andersson
That might not sound pleasant to some Golden Knights fans, considering the statistical output that the Swedish Olympian had. He scored only six assists during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and scored seven goals and 10 assists in the first year of his Vegas residency.
Those numbers don't warrant a contract extension in the eyes of the Vegas faithful. They warrant a whole "he's not worthy of $59.5 million" discussion that fans are having. Still, there's good reason to believe that the veteran defenseman will rebound and help the Golden Knights.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon has been known for hitting home runs and signing players while the iron's hot. He won't skimp on those deals, either. When he does his due diligence on extending a player, it comes with an understanding of the player's market value and what he brings to the team. Is that the case with Andersson, or will he peter out?
The case for Rasmus Andersson sticking around with the Vegas Golden Knights
Let's be honest for a second. Andersson has wanted to play for the Golden Knights for some time. He wanted to be a part of a winning franchise that could contend for a Stanley Cup. That's partially why McCrimmon got him to come to Las Vegas in the first place.
But another reason why he was acquired in the first place was because of how he could move the puck. Andersson could master various methods of passing, ranging from short passes to the stretch pass. His ability to stretch the ice for Vegas was something that McCrimmon desperately needed.
That's especially true when you've downgraded your team's shooting during the summer. Gone are key goal scorers such as Pavel Dorofeyev, leaving a void in Vegas. How will you keep the offensive front up for the Golden Knights without these superstars? That's where Andersson comes into play.
Yes, he didn't have the best introduction to the Golden Knights' realm in 2025-26. But there were some underlying issues with coming over to the United States that tripped him up. He's still grateful to play for the Golden Knights and he knows that it's a new year. Perhaps he can rebound in a massive way and help Vegas win its second Stanley Cup in 2026-27.
Who knows? There might be a special revenge staredown that comes with it.
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