Philadelphia Flyers Add $25.5M Offensive Defenseman in New Trade Pitch

The Philadelphia Flyers could look to add more talent to their roster, and one way is by adding more offense to the back end.

Heavy.com has a trade idea that would see the Flyers acquire Rasmus Ristolainen from the Philadelphia Flyers in a blockbuster deal.

Maple Leafs acquire:

Rasmus Ristolainen

Flyers acquire:

Ben Danford
Calle Jarnkrok
Nick Robertson
2028 third-round pick

The proposed deal would be an intriguing one, as Philadelphia would bolster its blue line, but the cost would be high, including a third-round pick, two NHL forwards, and the Flyers’ top defensive prospect.

Philadelphia would acquire Ristolainen, who can add some more offense to the back end and potentially quarterback the power play. He has two years left on his $25.5 million deal and would add some more offense to the blue line. Ristolainen recorded 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 63 games.

In return, Philadelphia would give up a third-round pick and Danford as the key parts of the deal. Danford was a first-round pick in 2024 and is likely a couple of years away from being in the NHL, so Philadelphia moves on from him in a win-now move.

The Flyers would also give up Jarnkrok to help make the salaries work. He’s in the final year of his four-year, $8.4 million deal. He’d be a bottom-six forward with the Maple Leafs and could be used as a trade candidate at the deadline.

Robertson, meanwhile, is another cap dump as he doesn’t have a clear-cut roster spot with the Flyers. But, he’d be a middle-six forward and add some more offense to the Maple Leafs’ offense.

Flyers Have Shown Interest in Ristolainen

Philadelphia trading for Ristolainen wouldn’t be a surprise, as the Flyers have shown interest in him.

At the trade deadline, as the Flyers were looking to add a defenseman, they had talks with the Maple Leafs for Ristolainen. Yet, NHL insider Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported that Philadelphia turned down the trade request.

“League executives also suggested the Senators could try to see if they can find a fit with the Philadelphia Flyers for right-shot blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen, who has two years left at $5.1 million per season,” Garrioch wrote.

“But it should be noted that the Philadelphia Flyers tried desperately to get Ristolainen at the trade deadline in March, and were rebuffed. “The Flyers offered the moon and couldn’t get him out of there,” a league source said,” Garrioch added.

Whether or not the Maple Leafs would trade away Ristolainen now is uncertain. But perhaps with the Maple Leafs looking to rebuild, Ristolainen will be dealt this year.

Flyers Trying to Move Money Out

Philadelphia has been linked to making more moves this summer.

The Flyers have an excess of forwards and could look to trade some, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, as Philadelphia has been linked to signing Jack Roslovic.

“I’ve heard there’s still a few teams looking at him. He’s the best available player remaining. Obviously, he hasn’t found anything he 100 percent likes,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts about Roslovic. “But there’s definitely a few teams poking around there. I’ve heard five or six, so he has to get to something he’s comfortable with, and we know with Philadelphia, they’re trying to move money around.”

The Flyers’ most obvious trade candidates are David Kampf, Jarnkrok, and Robertson.