The Story Behind Ristolainen Not Being Traded by Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers surprised some at the trade deadline by keeping veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen rather than moving him. GM Daniel Briere reportedly set a high asking price—a first-round pick plus a prospect—and while several teams inquired, no offer came in meeting the expected return.

---

Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff believes the Flyers were smart to hang onto Ristolainen, despite the fact that Briere could have traded him for a solid return. Philadelphia could have landed a couple of strong assets, but Ristolainen’s exit would’ve left a big hole on the right side. The Flyers would have either been forced to find a replacement or rush one of the younger players into that spot.

He writes, “…the Flyers could’ve found a stop-gap in the meantime, but with the free agent pool as shallow as ever and the trade market being what it is for top-four defensemen, it likely would’ve cost the team more to find said replacement for Ristolainen…”

Did The Flyers Miss Their Shot At The Best Return?

Some analysts argue the Flyers may have missed the best chance to trade Ristolainen at peak value. There may always be a market for a player of his ilk, but it wasn’t that long ago when a trade meant including a sweetener to take on his contract. The Flyers wouldn’t have had to do so here, and they could have fetched a solid return. So too, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports writes, “The 31-year-old defenseman has been nagged by injuries, including a significant one to his right arm. Last season, he suffered a second triceps tendon rupture, which kept him out until mid-December of this season.”

He adds that it’s fair to wonder if his value will ever be higher than it is right now.”

Still, others defend the move, and leaving the Flyers with just players like Jamie Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, or David Jiricek could have been problematic.

If the Flyers decide to rethink things, they can attempt a summer trade or reassess at next year’s deadline. Ristolainen will be pending UFA next season and he becomes quite the interesting rental if he continues to perform well. He’s currently healthy, playing top-pair minutes, and he just had a solid Olympics for Team Finland.

Next: Weak 2026 NHL Free Agent Class Could Lead to Major Overpayments