What happened: Rasmus Andersson has signed a seven-year, $59.5 million extension with the Vegas Golden Knights, an $8.5 million average annual value. The 29-year-old defenceman arrived in a Jan. 18 trade from the Calgary Flames that sent Zach Whitecloud, prospect Abram Wiebe, a 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2028 second-rounder the other way, with Calgary retaining 50 percent of his salary. The deal keeps him anchored to Vegas' back end through the next seven seasons.

Why it matters: The extension gives Vegas long-term stability on the right side of its defence and cements a core built to contend. Andersson made an immediate impact after the trade and factored into the club's playoff run, making him a foundational piece rather than a rental. Locking him in early in free agency removes a key question mark from the roster.

What to watch: Watch how Vegas configures its defence pairings around Andersson heading into the 2026-27 season and whether the retained salary shapes Calgary's next moves.