Oilers GM Stan Bowman said the team wanted the cap flexibility to go after upgrades during the season. Does Andersson qualify?
The Edmonton Oilers chose not to match offer sheets for Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway on Tuesday. In his media call after the decision, Oilers' GM Stan Bowman said it was a "business decision" and that he wanted the cap flexibility that the team wouldn't have had if they'd chosen to match.
The choice does come with consequences. With the loss of Broberg and the Cody Ceci trade, Bowman acknowledged that his blue line is weaker than it once was. However, he believes the Oilers have a couple of younger defensemen in Ty Emberson and Paul Fischer who could compete for jobs and the cap room now to potentially add for the "stretch run" of the season.
This is where a player like Rasmus Andersson may show up on the Oilers' radar.
While Andersson won't be a rental this year, (he's got two seasons remaining on his contract), his name has been in the rumor mill. The Flames have sold off most of their other tradeable assets and Andersson is one of the few names remaining with a team-friendly contract who is a clear upgrade for several clubs who could use another defenseman.
If the Oilers find they need that upgrade over the pieces they've added, or that their quantity-over-quality approach isn't working, Andersson could be an interesting target. He's a $4.55 million cap hit, but if the Flames retain salary, at around $2.5 to $3 million, he's a smart bet as a right-shot blueliner for the Oilers.
And, considering Edmonton landed second and third-round picks in offer sheet compensation, flipping both to the Flames would seem logical.
Calgary likely won't sell Andersson off cheaply and the Oilers won't be the only team kicking tires if the Flames make it known the defenseman is available. But, if Calgary struggles this season and the Oilers are looking for something better, don't be surprised if rumors pop up that these two teams have had preliminary conversations.