Following his strong showing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has gained significant attention. With the March 6 NHL trade deadline looming, chatter has picked up around the 31-year-old blueliner. That said, the Flyers are certainly amenable to moving Ristolainen at the deadline. But doing so won’t be cheap for whoever acquires him.
According to Anthony DiMarco of Daily Faceoff, the price tag on Ristolainen could be comparable to one big-ticket blueliner moved at last year’s deadline. DiMarco pointed out that the Flyers will be looking to get a similar return to the one the Boston Bruins got for Brandon Carlo.
It’s worth noting the Bruins got a top prospect from the Toronto Maple Leafs (Fraser Minten), a conditional first-round pick, and a third-round selection. That’s three pieces for a veteran blueliner with one more year left on his contract at the time.
That’s precisely the same scenario for the Flyers at this point. That’s why it wouldn’t be outrageous to consider the Flyers’ asking price being in the same ballpark.
As for potential destinations, DiMarco pointed out that the Edmonton Oilers and Bruins could be looking to add the veteran D-man. However, neither club has emerged as a serious contender.
Chatter could pick up in the coming days. The deadline is fast approaching, and contending clubs will be hedging their positions accordingly.
Flyers rumors suggest team willing to retain
Another interesting piece is the Flyers' apparent willingness to retain salary in a Ristolainen trade. The Finnish blueliner has one more year left on his contract at $5.1 million. The retention, of course, would apply for the remainder of this season and the entirety of next.
If that’s the case, the price tag would significantly jump. It could allow the Flyers to get the return they want in this deal.
It’s uncertain how much Philadelphia would be willing to retain. But you would have to think that a contending club like the Oilers would need 50% to make the math work. The Bruins might fall in the same ballpark.
Other clubs involved may have more cap space to work with. One club, the Detroit Red Wings, has been looking for a blueliner. They have the pieces and the cap space to make a deal work. That’s why a trade involving Ristolainen could make sense for both the Red Wings and Flyers.
At this point, however, there hasn’t been a clear indication that Ristolainen could be heading to the Motor City. Nevertheless, things could change quickly.