Though a lot of the commerce hypothesis in Philadelphia has centered round defenseman Sean Walker in 2023-24, there’s one other Flyers blueliner who has entered commerce discussions forward of the Mar. 8 deadline. Rasmus Ristolainen, who’s in his third full season in Philly after coming over from the Buffalo Sabres in 2021, has been rumored as a possible participant who might be on the transfer.

Though Ristolainen struggled mightily in his second season with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022-23, he is been much-improved defensively whereas working with assistant coach Brad Shaw this yr. After lacking the primary 20 video games of the yr as a consequence of a lower-body damage, he is been stable whereas taking part in slightly below 17 minutes of ice per evening.

Shaw has been a assist to a lot of the workforce’s blueline, one of many causes the workforce has had success this season, in line with Broad Avenue Buzz’s Ariel Melendez.

“The assistant coach has labored wonders with quite a few Flyers’ defensemen, together with Walker and Nick Seeler. Ristolainen has been on the optimistic facet with regard to driving play,” wrote Melendez on Saturday. “He missed a while initially of the season and took a bit to get into the swing of issues.”

Ristolainen is a giant physique who is tough to play in opposition to and would presumably be a backside pairing defenseman on a Stanley Cup contending workforce. We are saying presumably as Risto has by no means performed in a postseason contest regardless of coming into the league with the Sabres in 2013. It is most likely excessive time for the 29-year-old to get a style of playoff hockey, and if GM Danny Briere can purchase draft capital for the Finn, it might make sense to discover a deal.

Rasmus Ristolainen solely a depth defenseman at this level

Regardless of being drafted No. 8 total by the Sabres within the 2013 NHL Draft and having excessive expectations coming into the league, he is been on a gentle offensive decline. After scoring 45 factors in 2016-17 and following it up with 41 and 43 level campaigns, he fell to 33, then 18, then 16, earlier than scoring three objectives and including 20 factors over 74 video games in 2022-23.

He hasn’t achieved a lot offensively this yr both, recording only a single objective and 4 factors over 30 video games.

“What buying groups might have to grasp, although, is that Ristolainen isn’t a top-six defender except completely essential,” continued Melendez. “He works nicely in a restricted, third pair function, which makes the worth tag arduous to swallow. However when you’re on the lookout for a depth defensemen who can add some physicality to the workforce, Ristolainen does simply that.”

One of many issues with a possible Ristolainen deal is his ghastly cap hit. He is in simply the second of a five-year deal that can pay the previous World Junior Hockey Championship gold medallist $5.1 million for the subsequent three seasons. That would look higher if the wage cap goes up, however probably, the Flyers would want to retain wage in a possible commerce.

What he would possibly fetch on the commerce market is tough to gauge, however ought to develop into extra clear over the subsequent couple of weeks. Listed below are three groups who would profit from at the very least checking in on the hulking D-man.

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks already introduced a towering blueliner to British Columbia, swinging a commerce for Nikita Zadorov earlier than additionally including Elias Lindholm weeks later. And GM Patrik Allvin may not be achieved. The Nucks have already been linked to Ristolainen, in line with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Vancouver already boasts a blueline with Zadorov and Tyler Myers, who’s of comparable stature and performs an analogous recreation. It is fascinating that the workforce would possibly need to add one other piece, and the Flyers D-man may fill a spot on the underside pairing, or be an possibility if accidents take a toll within the postseason.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Together with Vancouver, the Toronto Maple Leafs had been the opposite Canadian membership that Friedman linked Ristolainen to. That is smart, because the Leafs have been determined to make an addition or two to the protection corps for principally the complete season. The offense continues to maintain the ship afloat, however Toronto may definitely use one other blueliner. Whether or not or not he may thrive within the media market is a distinct story, and his profession is already on the decline. Nonetheless, evidently GM Brad Treliving has already reached out to Briere relating to the D-man.

Vegas Golden Knights

This might most likely solely work if the Flyers had been to retain wage on Ristolainen, however the Vegas Golden Knights have been riddled by accidents in 2023-24 and will look so as to add one other piece forward of the NHL Commerce Deadline. Shea Theodore stays on the IR and is not shut, whereas a number of different items on the blue line have missed time with varied illnesses this yr. Risto is not logging the 23 minutes of ice time he was early in his profession, however he may add one other factor to Vegas’ roster forward of one other Stanley Cup run in 2024.