Flames Trade Target Rasmus Andersson Lists 2 Canadian Teams He Will NOT Be Going To

With a six-team no-trade list, Rasmus Andersson knows he can't completely control his destiny. But the prime Calgary Flames' trade target, in speaking with Eric Francis of Sportsnet, has at least made it clear who two of the teams on his list might certainly be:

I hate the Oilers, I hate the Canucks and that’s just the way I am.

No doubt both the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks, two true contenders, would absolutely love to add Andersson to their bluelines—with a top-four D-man being at the top of both teams' shopping lists.

But the 28-year-old, who has spent his entire nine-year career in Calgary, wants to stay in Cow Town, and has no interest whatsoever in going to either of the Flames' most heated rivals. But as far as most other teams around the league, he realizes he might not have a choice.

“Of course I would love to stay here, but I’ve heard from everyone else who has been in my situation that it’s a business," the Flames' workhorse defenseman told Francis.

“I’ve got no say in it – I have a six-team no trade list, so it’s out of my hands. July 1st is when I can re-sign, and we’re in January. It’s all in Connie (GM Craig Conroy) and Don’s (president of hockey ops Don Maloney’s) hands what happens to me until my contract is up, unless we find a deal."

Andersson has another season remaining on his six-year, $4.55M AAV deal, and he's certainly kept up his end of the bargain. He's missed a total of only five games over the last four seasons (including this one), and has averaged close to 24 minutes of ice time per night over that time, this year at a career-high 24:29.

Last season he set a personal best with 186 blocked shots and he's on pace to blow past that this year, eating rubber 102 times in 40 games.

He would be a tremendous add to any contender's top-four on the blueline, and the Flames will be getting some legit trade offers. We recently looked at three teams said to have great interest in Andersson as we approach the trade deadline.

Despite a potential big return, however, it's unlikely that Conroy will trade Andersson if the Flames are still in the playoff hunt, which they are, unexpectedly, at the midway point of the season. Calgary is just one point back of the second Wild Card spot heading into Friday's play.