As the trade deadline heats up, one of the hottest names on the market is Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, but the Flyers are in a unique position with the oft-injured but talented defender.
His strong performance in the Olympic Games assuaged the fears of many around the league that thought he might have lingering effects from his recent injury woes. He is now, according to reports, one of the more sought-after players on the trade block. It would be easy to imagine him being dealt this trade deadline, or maybe even in the offseason, but the less talked about option when it comes to the frightening Finn is simply keeping him.
The Flyers have a few reasons why they don't have to trade, and might actually benefit, from keeping Ristolainen in the fold until next season.
Gives Them the Depth For Other Moves
Ristolainen is far from the only Flyers’ defender on the trading block. Noah Juulsen is a low-priced pending UFA, depth defender who is right-handed, a frequently traded commodity around this time of year. He should be easy to move, and would be worth the middle or late round draft pick.
There is also Emil Andrae, who is a certified member of Rick Tocchet's doghouse. He's also an RFA, which makes him more attractive in the trade market. You also have to step back and decide if you believe Andrae is worth sticking with to try to make a part of your top six, or allow one of your many prospects a shot at winning the spot. Without being a standout offensive player, you don't see many 5'9" defenders.
Keeping Ristolainen means you could actively shop both of those players, while filling in those spots with a player like Helge Grans, who needs a long look, or clearing the way for Oliver Bonk to ascend next season, for example.
A Year Make a Difference
If you think Ristolainen is hot now, just imagine when he's a pending UFA.
Right now, with a year at $5.1 million, you have to find a team that will be able to accommodate a decent cap hit for this season and next. That limits your trading partners. With the cap moving up again, a healthy Ristolainen could be a very tempting option for a wide range of teams.
Holding him until next year's trade deadline lets you use him as part of the rebuild for a while longer, or provides you with a strong player for a team making a playoff push.
Rebuilding or Ready?
Ultimately, moving on from Ristolainen comes down to a fundamental question that Danny Briere would need to answer.
Do you think this team will be ready to contend for a playoff spot next season? If you say yes, then you should probably keep Ristolainen as part of your defensive core until the next trade deadline and reassess. If you think you're more than a year away, then you might have to bite the bullet and move him.
Either way, we'll find out soon.