Report: Maple Leafs interested in Flames' Andersson

The Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams showing interest in Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The Maple Leafs reportedly attempted to trade for Andersson at the 2025 trade deadline but were unsuccessful.

Andersson is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $4.55-million cap hit. The Flames could conceivably receive a larger return for Andersson if he inks an extension with the team that acquires him, and Toronto is one of the destinations Andersson would consider signing with, LeBrun adds.

Current Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving drafted Andersson in 2015 while running the Flames' hockey operations department, and he signed the right-shot defenseman to his current contract, which is set to expire this summer.

Andersson, 29, has recorded 22 points in 33 games with the Flames this season while averaging a team-high 24:08 per contest. He notched a career-high 50 points in 2021-22.

Toronto has been without its top two right-shot defensemen, Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo, for the majority of the season due to injuries.

The Maple Leafs enter Tuesday's slate five points out of a playoff spot. They own only one first-round pick over the next three drafts.

The Flames are second-last in the NHL and expected to be sellers at the trade deadline. Andersson is their most prominent pending UFA.

The Vegas Golden Knights, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Los Angeles Kings also reportedly showed interest in Andersson during the summer. Vegas was reportedly Andersson's preferred destination at the time.