It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re into the month of November, but some teams are already thinking about making deals. A number of moves have already been made in the early portion of the campaign. However, we could see some more come soon. One team that could make some trades is the Philadelphia Flyers. This edition of NHL rumours takes a look at how one defenceman could be trade bait.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Philadelphia Flyers Could Deal Veteran Blueliner
Rumour: Anthony Di Marco of The Daily Faceoff said the Flyers could look into dealing Rasmus Ristolainen in the future. The Finn has morphed into a solid defender this season and Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere could move him.
Analysis: Ristolainen has struggled at time during his stint with the Flyers. However, he’s seemingly turned into a decent blueliner. Much of his turnaround can be contributed to being paired with Travis Sanheim.
The 30-year-old being a wanted commodity could come as a surprise due to his inconsistent play, age and injury history. However, his partnership with Sanheim has been one of the bright spots for a scuffling Flyers teams.
Philadelphia is tied for sixth in the Metropolitan Division with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Briere and President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones may be looking to shake the roster up with some deals.
Trade Talk Not a New Thing
Teams have actually looked into Ristolainen in the past. Di Marco mentions that both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks have looked into the veteran defenceman. However, no deal was made at the deadline or during the summer.
One thing that could scare teams away is the remaining length of the contract. Ristolainen is still under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. Taking on a contract for that length of time is something that might deter teams from pursuing the veteran.
The cap hit of $5.1 million may also have teams not wanting to go after the Finn. His deal was a pretty hefty one when he signed it. However, inflation has put that contract towards the middle of the pack.
The Flyers Hold the Cards
Philadelphia would likely have to retain some of that salary, but it’s something that Briere probably understands. The Flyers can retain over $2.5 million of salary in order to entice teams to make a deal.
It seems that Philadelphia and company have a slow development pattern and Ristolainen could useful. The injury to Cam York may have opened some eyes on how Ristolainen has been playing. He may not be a top-pair blueliner, but he could be serviceable to a contending team.
The Flyers also have the luxury of time with the veteran defender. They can bide their time and wait for the right deal. It’s similar to the situation to what the Montreal Canadiens had with David Savard. There were rumours that Savard be dealt, but the Habs decided to wait because they knew he had time before his contract ends.
Philadelphia may have to retool and Ristolainen may have played himself into a valuable piece.
Main photo by: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
