Philadelphia Flyers Take Trade Calls on Rasmus Ristolainen
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic: Kurz writes that if the Philadelphia Flyers stumble out of the gate, they will be making calls to defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. As was the case last season, teams asked for Ristolainen’s availability until the deadline. However, the Flyers won’t give him away.
He has one year left on his contract with a $5.1 million cap hit. Being a right-handed defender helps, given that they are needed at this time of year. Ristolainen can slide into anyone’s top four and play. Teams like the Dallas Stars are looking to add a right-handed defenseman after missing out on Rasmus Andersson. That’s good considering how many Finnish players are in the team.
As we see all over the league, even with a few sellers, the Flyers won’t give him away. The Stars have first- and second-round picks in the 2027 NHL Draft, but none this year. Interest throughout the league is building for a player of Ristolainen’s ilk.
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NHLRumors.com Note: Not only are the Flyers receiving interest from the Stars in Ristolainen, but as NHLRumors.com reported via Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff, teams like the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, and Tampa Bay Lightning have all made inroads into Ristolainen. We saw him play well in Finland at the Olympics. Could the Flyers get the same package that the Boston Bruins got for Brandon Carlo?
Who’s Trade Value is up since the Olympics
Matt Larkin of the Daily Faceoff: Larkin looks at a few players coming off the Olympics whose trade value could rise heading into the Trade Deadline, which is a week away.
Jordan Binnington – For a guy that many people are considering going to the Olympics, Binnington has shown that he can still deliver in big moments and pressure situations with a good defense in front of him. The noise has already started in Binnington, but there is a sense that it may be the summer movement of St. Louis Blues. Also, Binnington has a 14-team no-trade clause.
Mika Zibanejad – Zibanejad had a great tournament in Sweden. He was one of the top scorers and showed that he can still put it in the net. Also, it all comes down to whether you want to travel to New York right now. This is a summer move, and the New York Rangers, who are in the middle of a rebuild.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Although Larkin doesn’t think much of playing for Sweden’s OEL at the Olympics, as he writes, Sam Hallam’s decisions should not be questioned. However, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is still the top four defenseman in the NHL. Given where the Toronto Maple Leafs are at, this is the most valuable trade chip on the market despite their lackluster performance in the Olympics.
Elias Petterson – The big question is: Will the Vancouver Canucks trade Elias Pettersson? Pettersson, like OEL, was caught by the coach. Although there were places where Pettersson looked like his old self. There is still hope for the Swede, but the question is who will take that $11.5 million hit.
Eli Tolvanen – Tolvanen is a free agent this summer for the Kraken. He had limited ice time for Finland at the Olympics. Seattle wants to make the playoffs, so they need him. However, his performance except for one match, in which Finland won the Bronze, and combined his statistics, shows the inconsistencies in his game.
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Other players, such as Damian Clara and Samuel Hlavaj, have raised their stock for the future. Can they see the change of scenery and become the future goalkeeper of another team?
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