It’s time for another round of NHL Rumours with us here at Last Word On Hockey. The Philadelphia Flyers are in a familiar position in the standings as the trade deadline nears, and it could lead to more selling. One player generating a lot of buzz is one of their Olympic defencemen.
NHL Rumours: Talk Heating Up on Flyers’ Defenceman
Rumour: The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta said on Oilersnation Everyday on February 23 that there are potentially up to eight teams that have “poked around” on Rasmus Ristolainen.
Analysis: This isn’t the first time Rasmus Ristolainen’s name has come up in trade rumours. From the moment the Flyers acquired him in 2021, Ristolainen has been among trade deadline conversation. In his first season with the Flyers, Ristolainen was on an expiring contract. Rather than move him at the deadline, the Flyers signed him to a five-year extension.
That extension still has one full season remaining with a $5.1 million cap hit. But with the salary cap increases of recent years, the contract is much more manageable. The Flyers’ willingness to retain could also help them find a suitor for Ristolainen.
Ristolainen has the profile of a hot commodity come the trade deadline. The big, physical right-handed defenceman has the tools to be a strong fit for a team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. At 31, Ristolainen has yet to appear in a playoff game.
What It Means
The Flyers are poised to be sellers, and after giving Christian Dvorak a five-year contract extension in January, Ristolainen is their most valuable trade chip. The veteran defenceman has played in just 22 games this season with one goal and six points. A strong showing with Team Finland at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics has boosted his value.
The market for right-handed defencemen, especially with the size that Ristolainen offers, is heating up. Rasmus Andersson was previously the top target, but after getting traded to Vegas, leaves other contenders looking for similar players. Ristolainen is certain to be one of the top available players in this category, and that could lead to a solid return for the Flyers.
As Pagnotta reported, there are potentially up to eight teams looking into Ristolainen as an option, and while some may be more serious than others, the activity around the deadline will breed action, especially if teams need to pivot from another trade target to find a similar right-handed defenceman.
At last year’s deadline, Ristolainen’s name was in the mix, but he was ultimately retained by the Flyers. The Flyers finally decided the time was right to move Scott Laughton after years of his name being in the rumor mill. They acquired Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick from Toronto. Could a similar return be available for Ristolainen? Given the market for right-handed defencemen, it’s certainly possible, and it could mean there is no better time for the Flyers to make this move while the market is hot.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images