Stop me if you’ve heard this before.
Per Dave Pagnotta, the Philadelphia Flyers are engaged in trade talks around defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Multiple teams, including the Ottawa Senators, are interested in the Finish blueliner.
At the trade deadline, Flyers GM Danny Briere set the price tag at a 1st-round pick+ for the defenseman. The Flyers held on to Ristolainen instead of trading him, and his value only got higher with his excellent play. Now, his name is back on the rumor mill.
The Senators, being a team mentioned as having interest, is, well, interesting. They have multiple 1st-round picks this year, and they also have multiple centers that the Flyers could be interested in. With their trade to land William Eklund, they clearly indicated that they’re not rebuilding.
Pagnotta mentions “multiple teams”, but the rest are unknown. You have to wonder about Buffalo, which just traded Bo Byram to the Blackhawks, and will need someone to fill his spot as Owen Power’s RD partner.
The Boston Bruins were linked to RHDs at the deadline, and teams like the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars always seem to be looking to upgrade on defense.
Ristolainen proved the Flyers were right for keeping him around for the postseason. For the longest time, it was always, “players like Ristolainen are built for the playoffs”, but there was no playoff experience. After his first trip to the postseason, you saw that it was true.
The defenseman turned his career back in the right direction in Philly, and could now be on the move. Would you trade Rasmus Ristolainen?
Read More: Report: Flyers Talking New Deal For Veteran 4th Liner