The Philadelphia Flyers are in an analogous state of affairs now as they have been earlier than final yr’s commerce deadline: They have an efficient participant with another yr left on his contract that they don’t have to maneuver, however would transfer for the right value.
Last yr, it was Scott Laughton. This yr, it’s Rasmus Ristolainen.
Of course, the Flyers received a pleasant return for Laughton final season, prying a 2027 first-round choose and ahead Nikita Grebenkin out of Toronto. The value is regarded as comparable for Ristolainen, who’s signed by subsequent season at a $5.1 million salary-cap hit. The defenseman is the one Flyers participant listed on The Athletic’s most up-to-date trade board, coming in at No. 15.
There was a comparable deal for a participant of Ristolainen’s stature final season, when Toronto acquired bodily defenseman Brandon Carlo from Boston for a 2026 first-round choose, a 2025 fourth-round choose and middle Fraser Minten. If a group referred to as Flyers normal supervisor Daniel Briere with a suggestion alongside these traces for Ristolainen, he would definitely hear, per multiple team sources.
So who might hit up Briere? Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at teams that may very well be looking out for a veteran, right-shot defenseman with measurement and mobility, and whether or not these teams have what it takes to probably make a cope with the Flyers, who may merely retain Ristolainen if their value isn’t met. We’ll pay explicit consideration to these teams that might have a promising middle to dangle, as that is still the Flyers’ most outstanding place of want each on the NHL degree and of their system.
Buffalo Sabres
Do they have a first-round choose?
Yes. The Sabres have their very own first-round choose in every of the subsequent three years.
Do they have any younger facilities they might transfer?
Asking for Jiri Kulich — who was the Sabres’ top-line middle earlier than he got here out of the lineup with a blood clot — in all probability isn’t possible. Same for Konsta Helenius, the No. 14 choose within the 2024 draft (one spot after Jett Luchanko).
Anton Wahlberg, although, may very well be a participant the Sabres are keen to maneuver in the correct deal. A second-round choose in 2023, Wahlberg has 6 objectives and 25 factors in 48 video games for AHL Rochester, and at 6-foot-4, 205 kilos, he would give the Flyers some wanted measurement. The 20-year-old has performed each middle and left wing this season and remains to be ready to make his NHL debut.
A non-center that the Flyers may probably be fascinated with is 24-year-old goalie Devon Levi, who’s spent the whole lot of this season in Rochester. Assuming the Flyers don’t re-up restricted free agent Sam Ersson, they’re going to want one other goalie within the group who can probably again up Dan Vladar subsequent season.
Keep in thoughts, the Sabres are actually run by normal supervisor Jarmo Kekäläinen, who was additionally the assistant GM for Team Finland on the Olympics, the place Ristolainen excelled.
Boston Bruins
Do they have a first-round choose?
Yes, and then some. The Bruins have their very own first-rounder in every of the subsequent three years, in addition to Toronto’s 2026 choice (top-five protected) and Florida’s choose in 2027.
Do they have any younger facilities they might transfer?
One participant who stands out who may get moved in the sort of deal is 21-year-old Mathew Poitras, who was basically leapfrogged within the group by Minten. Poitras performed 33 NHL video games each in 2023-24 and final season, however has appeared in simply three for the Bruins this season. A second-round choose in 2022, Poitras has 7 objectives and 27 factors in 69 NHL video games.
Dallas Stars
Do they have a first-round choose?
Only in 2027. They traded away their 2026 and 2028 first-rounders within the Mikko Rantanen deal final season.
Do they have any younger facilities they might transfer?
Not actually. The Stars have surrendered future property in offers through the years within the title of constructing a Stanley Cup run. Another complication right here is that the Stars, in keeping with Elliotte Friedman, aren’t seeking to take again gamers with time period till they work out the way forward for pending restricted free agent Jason Robertson.
The apparent connection right here although is that Ristolainen simply received a bronze medal with 4 different Finns on Dallas’ roster. He even roomed with Rantanen within the Olympic village. While the golf equipment might must get a bit inventive to make one thing occur, I wouldn’t utterly rule out the Stars, who’re nonetheless hoping to make a deep playoff run and appear like they may use some assistance on the correct aspect of their protection.
San Jose Sharks
Do they have a first-round choose?
The Sharks have their very own first-round picks in every of the subsequent three years, in addition to Edmonton’s in 2026.
Do they have any younger facilities they might transfer?
The Sharks are fairly set down the center with Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa all within the early phases of their respective careers. They additionally simply re-signed middle Alex Wennberg to a three-year extension. They do want extra defensemen, although, with 4 of their regulars set to turn into free brokers this summer time.
So might they be keen to maneuver a man resembling Filip Bystedt, the No. 27 choose within the 2022 draft? Bystedt, 22, has but to make his NHL debut, however has a pleasant complete of 40 factors (15 objectives, 25 assists) in 45 video games for the AHL Barracuda this season. According to Corey Pronman, Bystedt is “a huge center who can skate quite well and power his way to pucks when he wants to.”
Zack Ostapchuk, 22, is one other middle that would probably pique the Flyers’ curiosity. A second-round choose in 2021, Ostapchuk is large (6-4, 212 kilos), has spent a lot of the season because the Sharks’ fourth-line middle, and even once knocked out Matt Rempe. He doesn’t rating all that a lot, although, with 5 factors (3 objectives, 2 assists) in 35 video games, and simply 4 objectives and 9 complete factors in 98 profession NHL video games.
Of word: Sharks senior adviser and professional scout Tim Burke was noticed within the press field on the Flyers-Bruins sport on Saturday afternoon.
Ottawa Senators
Do they have a first-round choose?
Not in 2026, however they do have their very own alternatives in 2027 and 2028.
Do they have any younger facilities they might transfer?
The Senators’ system is heavy on defensemen, and even when that’s what the Flyers have been in search of, it’s uncertain that Ristolainen would be capable to return them both Carter Yakumchuk or Logan Hensler, the Senators’ first-round picks in every of the final two years.
Stephen Halliday is enjoying on the left wing of the Senators’ fourth line of late, the place he has a decent 11 factors (4 objectives, 7 assists) in his first 27 profession NHL video games, even getting time on the ability play. The 6-4, 212-pounder was enjoying middle within the AHL, the place he has posted 29 factors (2 objectives, 27 assists) in 29 video games this season.
Detroit Red Wings
Do they have a first-round choose?
Yes. They have all three of their first-round picks for the subsequent three years.
Do they have any younger facilities they might transfer?
The Red Wings have a pair of younger facilities in Nate Danielson (No. 9 choose in 2023) and Marco Kasper (No. 8 in 2022), however gamers of that pedigree might be an excessive amount of to ask for if the Flyers are insisting on a first-round choose, too. Kasper, specifically, might be too very important to the present Red Wings group, too.
One depth middle having a pleasant season in AHL Grand Rapids is 22-year-old Amadeus Lombardi, a fourth-round choose in 2022. He’s scoring at a point-per-game tempo (11 objectives, 22 assists in 33 video games) with the Red Wings’ affiliate. “Lombardi is an excellent skater with good hands and vision who can be an entry machine, and he’s ready for an NHL look,” Max Bultman of The Athletic wrote in January.
