What Flyers Can Get in Rasmus Ristolainen Trade – Hockey Writers – Philadelphia Flyers

Although the Philadelphia Flyers have started to find their footing with two wins in their last three games, they are 3-6-1 and hold the third worst record in the NHL. The Orange and Black have the task of building a roster for the franchise’s quarterback, Matvei Michkov, to contend with. Because of this, the veteran roster players of the trade should always play.

Related: Flyers’ Samuel Ersson Stands Tall in 2-0 Win vs. Bruins

One of the few players on the Flyers who has exceeded expectations is Rasmus Ristolainen. His name still gives many hockey fans pause due to his long struggles with the Buffalo Sabres, but he has turned it around in Philadelphia. When the trade season starts, that will come with a cost—what will that be?

Ristolainen Changes His Public Image

Don’t get it wrong—Ristolainen will never be the anchor of the defense that he was drafted eighth overall in 2013. However, we must understand where he started.

Size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) was a key factor in Ristolainen getting more ice time with the perpetually rebuilding Sabres, but he probably didn’t deserve it. In a system that couldn’t maximize his potential, he faced a Flyers team that was sorely lacking in right-handed defensemen. Buffalo got a good ton without being one of the worst players in analytics at the time: a 2021 first-round pick (Isak Rosen), a 2023 second-round pick (Anton Wahlberg), and Robert Hagg.

The trade from Philadelphia’s point of view was accompanied by a setback, which is one of the reasons why then-general manager (GM) Chuck Fletcher was let go in March 2023. Since being acquired, the 30-year-old defenseman, however, has started to show. signs of being a good hockey player.

The 2021-22 campaign wasn’t a great one for the right-handed Finn, but his next two were quite good. That’s probably not a coincidence, as defensive lineman Brad Shaw was brought on as an associate coach before the 2022-23 season along with head coach John Tortorella. Ristolainen’s usage decreased, but he began to give up fewer goalscoring opportunities and settled in at the back. While he’s not exempt from making the occasional bad read (he still has issues with this), Ristolainen has been playing the best hockey of his career. This season he is even better.

Among 101 defensemen with 150 minutes of ice time in 2024-25, he is first in expected goals against per 60 minutes at even strength (1.74). Ristolainen has become a low-event specialist under Shaw and Tortorella, but he’s gotten results. So, why do the Flyers want to trade him?

Advantages of Trading Ristolainen

The Flyers have a few goals this season, but none of them involve winning the Stanley Cup. The key is getting something of value, whether it’s a high draft pick, deadline experience for their young players, or seeing those youngsters take the next step in their careers. A few other things that fall under the umbrella of “gaining something of value”? Freeing money and finding a future.

With a $5.1 million cap hit for the 2026-27 campaign, Ristolainen is expendable. He’s the team’s best right-handed defenseman, but the Flyers aren’t winning and could use more money to replace him in free agency if they want to compete next season, anyway. With several promising right-handed defensemen in the pipeline (Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill) and the raw but talented Jamie Drysdale on the current roster, room will need to be made.

Related: Philadelphia Flyers 2024-25 Prospect Pyramid

Based on speculation, Ristolainen’s value is very high. His cap hit is rich for a second- and third-rounder, but getting anything like the Flyers quit is a win. Not only does it improve their prospect pool that big names can use, but it allows for financial freedom.

Estimating the Price of Ristolainen

So, what kind of return could be in store for Philadelphia regarding Ristolainen? Let’s think.

As mentioned, $5.1 million is a huge commitment for one season, let alone three of them. Because of this, it’s fair to assume that the Flyers will need to retain some of his contract. If they do not shut up that sacrifice, their return will be increased.

Before this season, a first-round pick was virtually off the table for any kind of move. But it may be now. Right-handed defenders don’t exactly grow on trees, and especially not the portable kind. Teams value this and the ability to hold back and prevent the opposition’s most dangerous looks come the play-offs.

There is some confusion about what Ristolainen might look like if he makes the postseason one day, as he was one of the big reasons Fletcher went and got him. Size has been seen as a key factor in winning tournaments for decades now, so this makes sense in theory. The problem is that, in his 723-game career, he has never whiffed in the first round—a hypothetical factor that has yet to materialize. Other GMs out there could see the same benefit by trading him for one of the other players on the market. So, I believe a day one draft pick could be in play here (think something like the Sean Walker deal).

Related: Valuing the Avalanche Trade for Sean Walker

There are no guarantees that the Flyers even want to part ways with Ristolainen. In a country with so many defensive backs, it’s easy to see why there might be reluctance to not only move him, but eat some salary on top of that. However, if the Flyers want to position themselves for success in the future and not just the present, the next few months may be their time to pull the trigger.