Bruins’ Rasmus Andersson trade pursuit ends without an extension

Rasmus Andersson is a 29-year-old right-shot defenseman. He is averaging 24:14 of ice time per game, not far off the thresholds of Moritz Seider (25:20), Cale Makar (25:09) and Brock Faber (24:41), all considered blue-line cornerstones on the right side.

Andersson is not just playing more than Charlie McAvoy (23:57). His 30 points put him ahead of McAvoy (29).

All of this is to say that Andersson, whose contract is expiring, could have made a case that he’d like to approach McAvoy’s $9.5 million average annual value on a long-term deal. That would have given the Boston Bruins pause.

According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Bruins were permitted to speak with Andersson about a contract. Whatever disagreement Andersson and the Bruins had on his future value, it was enough to scuttle a trade with the Calgary Flames. Andersson is now a Vegas Golden Knight.

Boston had permission to talk extension with Andersson but was not able to get an extension done. Vegas didn’t have that permission so no extension negotiated yet. But given that Vegas was top of list for Andersson last summer, I can’t imagine there should be any issue for Vegas…

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 18, 2026

Now, Andersson is considered a lock to make the 2025-26 playoffs, more so than had he become a Bruin. Not only that, but Andersson now works in Nevada, which has no state income tax. As a long-term Golden Knight, he could make more than he would have in Massachusetts.

In both ways, Andersson is following the trail that Brad Marchand blazed to the Florida Panthers. Andersson would be delighted if he shared the same experience as Marchand, who won the Stanley Cup and scored a six-year, $31.5 million extension in the tax-free Florida sunshine.

Both of these perks allowed Vegas to proceed with the trade even without a pending Andersson extension, putting it in a favorable position compared to the Bruins. General manager Don Sweeney would not have ceded a package rivaling Vegas’ just to see Andersson walk on July 1.

The Bruins have acquired rentals before, be it Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway or Tyler Bertuzzi in 2023. There was a reason for that. They were Stanley Cup favorites looking to reinforce their inside line. That’s not the case now. As much as coach Marco Sturm has initiated an accelerated revival, the Bruins are not optimized for today. They have tomorrow in mind, as well as making the 2025-26 playoffs.

Andersson would have been a big piece of both the present and future had he agreed to an extension. He is five months younger than David Pastrnak. Their windows would have aligned. Sturm could have rolled a top-four of McAvoy, Andersson, Hampus Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Any coach would dream of such luxury.

But Andersson, underpaid at $4.55 million annually, is looking to make up for lost time. He has earned the right to pursue a significant term and salary. Noah Hanifin, Andersson’s former Calgary teammate, went through a similar process with Vegas in 2024. The Golden Knights acquired Hanifin in the last year of his contract and without a future deal. Hanifin signed an eight-year, $58.8 million extension a month after the trade.

The Bruins’ pursuit signals Sweeney is looking to improve the franchise for today and tomorrow — within reason. He has already stocked a 2026 fourth-rounder from the Anaheim Ducks for Jeffrey Viel. More movement may be coming, as Sweeney may not restrict himself from buying and selling at the same time.

Acquiring Andersson would have put Andrew Peeke’s future in question. The right-shot defenseman is unrestricted after this season. The Bruins have Henri Jokiharju under contract through 2028 at $3 million annually. They placed Jokiharju on non-roster designation on Sunday because of a family matter. Jokiharju has found traction next to Zadorov after missing 16 games because of an undisclosed injury.

It remains to be seen whether missing on Andersson puts Peeke on the Bruins’ long-term radar. Like most clubs, they have more depth on the left side of their defense than on the right.

Viktor Arvidsson is also a pending UFA. The feisty right wing has been a good fit on the No. 2 line with Casey Mittelstadt and Pavel Zacha. As of Jan. 13, Arvidsson had not spoken with the Bruins about an extension.

Peeke and Arvidsson occupy positions the Bruins want to improve, not weaken. Neither, then, could necessarily be moved before the March 6 trade deadline. In fact, Sweeney would probably rather add at the right wing and defense. The Bruins have won six straight games and are among the top eight in the Eastern Conference.

Making the playoffs is no guarantee. It is a possibility, though, especially with some help.