Defenseman’s Situation “Coming to a Head” with Flyers, Says Insider

Nick Kypreos says he’s keeping an eye on the situation in Philadelphia between the Flyers and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Noting that a trade was talked about but didn’t happen this past season, there may not be much time now to make a final decision and trade talks could be revisited.

---

Kypreos wrote in his recent trade board column:

“Rasmus Ristolainen has been another regular on this trade board for a while, but he remained in Philadelphia because the Flyers couldn’t get their asking price and, this season, were a competitive playoff team. Now this situation is coming to a head, though. Ristolainen will be going into the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and there is little reason to believe he’ll re-sign with the Flyers.”

If the Flyers know he’s not staying, it seems likely that they shop him sooner than later, potentially making a move at the NHL Draft if there’s a trade available.

Kyper adds, “Turning 32 in October, Ristolainen is a big right-shot defenceman, and he had a pretty good season for Philadelphia, contributing to the team’s success.” It seems logical that he could be a trade deadline sell, but the Flyers might be better off moving him now. His value is still high coming off this past season’s play and a team might want him for a full year before deciding on whether or not to extend him. So too, there’s a risk that if he doesn’t have a strong 2026-27 campaign, he could be much harder to move.

He’s got this last season at $5.1 million on his contract, and if he plays well, he’ll be looking for a bump on a new deal. Any team that acquires him is going to want to be sure he’s worth the investment.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers Jersey, Canadiens & Golden Knights