Flyers’ Ristolainen still in play for trade – but he won’t come cheap

With three days to go until the NHL Trade Deadline, all eyes are on the sellers and whether the buyers will meet the desired asking prices. One of the teams in (at least partial) sell mode: the Philadelphia Flyers, who are fielding calls on 31-year-old defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

Speaking with team sources late last night following the Flyers’ 3-2 shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, it sounds like there are seven suitors circling the Olympic bronze medalist. Among the teams is the Buffalo Sabres, who Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and yours truly reported yesterday had interest in bringing back Ristolainen after trading him to Philadelphia in the summer of 2021. 

The Edmonton Oilers had shown some level of interest but elected to go the cheaper route after acquiring Connor Murphy (at 50 percent salary retention) from the Chicago Blackhawks Monday afternoon. The Oilers don’t have an especially great prospect pool, nor do they have a first-round pick this season, which could have limited their ability to be serious contenders for Ristolainen.

Given their rumored interest in Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers – there is still the question of whether he will waive his no-movement clause – it is safe to assume the Detroit Red Wings have kicked tires on Ristolainen. Speaking with sources, it sounds like GM Steve Yzerman isn’t keen on giving up either of his goaltending prospects in Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine nor 2023 ninth overall pick Nate Danielson, which may take them out of the Ristolainen sweepstakes. 

The Boston Bruins have shown interest in Ristolainen, but as Daily Faceoff reported last week, the sense is that he is not their first choice. The Dallas Stars have an annual need for a top-four, right-shot blueliner, but given their limited prospect pool and having traded two first-round picks over the next three years for Mikko Rantanen 12 months ago, they have limited high-end draft capital to offer up. 

The Flyers remain steadfast on their asking price for Ristolainen: a return comparable to that of what the Bruins got for Brandon Carlo last year. While they remain actively engaged in trade discussions regarding the 2013 eighth overall pick, they are perfectly content keeping him if they don’t get their price met – especially given the role he is playing on the Flyers’ top pair alongside Travis Sanheim and Ristolainen’s stellar play since the Olympics. 

With one year remaining on his contract at a more-than reasonable $5.1-million AAV, the Flyers would have no issue bringing Ristolainen (who by all accounts does not want to leave Philadelphia) back next season. The Flyers’ defense has not been a primary issue this season, and their top-four has finally taken shape along with the second-pair of (the drastically improved) Jamie Drysdale and Cam York. 

Whether the Flyers would trade Ristolainen next year or simply let his contract run out, sources tell Daily Faceoff that re-signing him beyond 2027 is not in the cards; the plan is for 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk to eventually take his place in the top four. 

As for forward Owen Tippett, the Flyers have not had much traction on him this week and a deal (if at all) may be more likely in the off-season, sources tell Daily Faceoff. 

The Bruins did circle back late last week to (once again) kick tires on the 2017 first-round pick’s availability, which they have done several times this season. Sources say every team that calls the Flyers will typically ask about Tippett; as has been the case all season, the Flyers are open to offers but are not shopping him by any stretch and would need to be presented with an offer that they can’t refuse. 

Speaking with team sources, a deal that would get the Flyers to start pondering to part with Tippett would have to be something along the lines of a first-round selection, a decent prospect and a mid-tier roster player. Using the Bruins as an example – given that they have arguably been the team to have shown the most interest in the player – a deal including defenseman Mason Lohrei, prospect center Dean Letourneau and a first-round pick (the Bruins have four over the next two drafts) would be something in the ball park that would get the Flyers thinking. To be fair, speaking with sources in Boston, it’s questionable whether the Bruins would want to meet that ask. 

Tippett, who carries a $6.2-million AAV until 2032, has 19 goals and 17 assists in 60 games this season. He also has a modified-NTC with a 10-team no-trade list that kicks in July of this year.

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