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Insider Links Flyers and Jets in Fit for Nearly-Untradeable D-Man
Rasmsus Ristolainen could be a player the Flyers are open to trading ahead of the deadline and one insider sees the Jets as a fit.
According to well-informed insider Pierre LeBrun, the Winnipeg Jets and Philadelphia Flyers might be two teams to watch ahead of the trade deadline. Specifically, LeBrun wonders if defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen would be a solid fit in Winnipeg.
In part two of his matchmaker posts for The Athletic, LeBrun believes the Flyers are open to trading Ristolainen for the right price and says the Jets could use his size on the right side of their blue line.
It wasn’t too long ago that Ristolainen’s contract scared teams, but it’s funny what happens with a 20-minute-a-night, top-four defenseman finds his game more consistently, as he has this season. Suddenly, with the salary cap going up, a $5.1 million cap hit for the next two and a half years isn’t so bad at all. That’s why league sources say the Flyers have indeed received calls this season asking if they would be willing to move Ristolainen.
Again, on whether the Flyers are open to trading a much-improved Ristolainen, “the answer from the Flyers is yes — if there’s a certain price met.” That would indicate their willingness to sell high and get the best return they can for a player who, not that long ago, was nearly untradeable.
What Do the Flyers Want in Return for Ristolainen?
LeBrun reports that the Flyers are asking for a decent return. “They would want a good prospect or young player in return or a combination of a prospect and a pick,” he writes. He adds, “And while trading for a player with term on his contract isn’t your typical deadline deal since most contenders prefer rentals, I can see it appealing to a few teams.”
The Jets are the kind of team that isn’t afraid to make these types of trades. LeBrun cited that the organization has gambled on deals before. After giving up a first-round pick last season for rental Sean Monahan, he walked on July 1. The Jets got nothing in return. They do these trades because it can be challenging to attract free agents, and with Ristolainen under contract, a new extension is one less thing for the Jets to have to worry about themselves.
LeBrun writes, “So there you have it, I’ve got the Cup-contending Jets taking on Ristolainen.”
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