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.
By the numbers: Andersson posted 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists) in 33 regular-season games with Vegas and finished 2025-26 with 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists) in 81 games between the two clubs, adding six assists in 22 playoff games. Across 584 games with Calgary he recorded 261 points, ranking sixth in scoring among Flames blueliners and 15th overall in
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.