The Philadelphia Flyers' deadline deal with the Minnesota Wild could be hinting at something much bigger.
The Flyers sent Bobby Brink to the Wild in exchange for defenseman David Jiricek. This move seems like a hockey trade on the surface. As my colleague Joe DeMarini noted, the Flyers had a logjam on the wing.
Plus, there was a legit need to make room for Porter Martone, who’s the organization’s most tantalizing prospect at this point.
But beyond that, there might be a bigger-picture move brewing here. One of the biggest rumors leading up to this year’s NHL trade deadline has been Rasmus Ristolainen. Up to a couple of days ago, the Buffalo Sabres had been rumored to be in hot pursuit. The Sabres pivoted, eventually landing Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets.
That said, Ristolainen’s name isn’t going anywhere. There have been other teams believed to be kicking the tires on the Olympic bronze medalist. The Montreal Canadiens have been one. The Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings have also been mentioned at one point or another.
So, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think that another deal could be in the works for Ristolainen. If that’s the case, moving Ristolainen could create an opening in the Flyers’ blue line. That need would immediately be filled with Jiricek.
Now, it’s not guaranteed that Ristolainen will go. But if he does, the Flyers will have a replacement ready to go. The only catch here is that Jiricek is in the final year of his entry-level contract.
But that’s where moving Ristolainen makes sense. By moving the veteran blueliner, the Flyers could use that cap space to re-sign Jiricek to a multi-year extension.
All told, the Brink-for-Jiricek deal seems to point towards getting younger and making the overall lineup deeper for the foreseeable future. There is still time for the Flyers to make something happen before the clock strikes 3 pm on Friday.