In a recent article for Daily FaceoffAnthony Di Marco reported that “five or six” clubs have expressed interest in Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
Di Marco also mentioned the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers as two specific clubs that have recently kicked the tires on Ristolainen.
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It’s not really a secret that the Bruins want to improve the right side of their defense. They haven’t found a suitable replacement for Brandon Carlo in their top four since trading him to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, and bringing in a player like Ristolainen could be a game-changer on that front.
The Bruins have also been connected to several other right-handed defensemen this season. As Di Marco noted, the Bruins were among the clubs that pursued Rasmus Andersson before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Calgary Flames. The Bruins have also been linked to St. Louis Blues right-handed defenseman Justin Faulk this season, so it’s understandable to have Ristolainen on their radar as well.
The Oilers also make sense as a suitor for Ristolainen. One of their biggest needs at this point in the season is another defender for their right side, and Ristolainen is easily one of the best potential options available. If Edmonton acquired him, he could replace Ty Emberson on their bottom pair. Yet he could also move into the Oilers’ second pairing if Jake Walman moves to the left side.
Ristolainen would also make sense for a real contender like the Oilers. His hard-nosed style of play would make him a valuable player to have around Edmonton during the playoffs when the games get tougher.
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Still, the Flyers are in a position where they can take their time with a Ristolainen trade. Indeed, he still has one year left on his contract after this season, where he has a cap hit of $5.1 million.
Still, it will be fascinating to see if the Flyers end up trading Ristolainen this season.
