Insider Reveals What It Would Have Taken for Maple Leafs to Land Andersson – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

There was a time this season when the Toronto Maple Leafs were looking to add players to help turn around their season. One of those players that the front office had their eye on was Rasmus Andersson, who played for the Calgary Flames. However, there were reports that the asking price was too high, and the Maple Leafs decided against the trade, likely based on the season that they were having.

Andersson was eventually traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Maple Leafs’ 2025-26 season became an absolute dumpster fire. There was a portion of the fan base that wondered why the front office wasn’t trying to make moves like acquiring Andersson. Instead of sitting back and doing very little. Well, thanks to NHL insider Darren Dreger, we now know what the Flames’ asking price was for the Maple Leafs.

Dreger Reveals Asking Price for Andersson

As mentioned above, Dreger revealed what he believes was the asking price for the Maple Leafs to acquire Andersson. It reportedly would have cost them a monster package including Easton Cowan and two first-round picks. That asking price is absolutely insane, considering that Andersson isn’t a top 10 blueliner in the NHL. Nor is he signed past this season, so all that for a player that could be a rental.

Realistically, if the former general manager (GM) Brad Treliving had agreed to that trade, it likely would have come with an extension. But there is no guarantee; that’s just an assumption. If he were to do that deal, it most likely wouldn’t have moved the needle enough to help get them into the playoffs this season. The rest of their blue line was too weak; plus, their forwards struggled to find the back of the net.

It is no secret that Treliving was known for questionable trades during his time in Toronto. The main one being trading their 2026 first-round pick and Fraser Minten for Brandon Carlo. Who never really found his fit within the organization, and it has hurt the club. As for Minten, he has proven that he belongs in the NHL and playing alongside David Pastrnak. So, it’s safe to assume that if he would have traded Cowan to the Flames, he would have made the trade look bad and shown why they should have kept him.

Not to mention, the Maple Leafs are in desperate need of not only draft picks as they navigate their retool, so parting with two firsts on top of the first from last season in the Carlo trade would have been inexcusable.

Thankfully, Treliving and his front office didn’t agree to part with the asking price because in the second half of the season, Cowan quickly became a huge part of the future of the Maple Leafs

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