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Philadelphia Flyers NHL Trade Deadline Candidates: Rasmus Ristolainen

97.5 The Fanatic will examine Philadelphia Flyers who could potentially be on the move before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. Danny Briere described their organizational outlook in maintaining the strategy…

Rasmus Ristolainen, a 2024 NHL Trade Deadline candidate for the Philadelphia Flyers
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

97.5 The Fanatic will examine Philadelphia Flyers who could potentially be on the move before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. Danny Briere described their organizational outlook in maintaining the strategy of the rebuild.

“We know where we are. We’re trying to get out of that rut where we make the playoffs one year (then) we miss (the next). You look at the standings. It’s very, very tight. We know we have a long ways to go, and we’re trying to build a team that’s going to be contenders for years to come, not just for one year… It’s a long season. It feels like it’s flashing by us, but the plan hasn’t changed.” -Danny Briere

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The Flyers will not fit the traditional definition of sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline, however. Closer analysis is needed to determine which moves do and don’t make sense for the Flyers in 2023-24 and down the road.

  1. Sean Walker
  2. Cam Atkinson
  3. Rasmus Ristolainen
  4. Nick Seeler
  5. Morgan Frost
  6. Carter Hart
  7. Marc Staal
  8. Louie Belpedio
  9. Sam Ersson

Rasmus Ristolainen: 2024 NHL Trade Deadline Candidate

Chuck Fletcher aggressively chased Rasmus Ristolainen in 2021. He sent a hefty trade package to the Buffalo Sabres and went to extreme measures to fit the big defenseman into a tough salary cap situation. While Ristolainen has improved his defensive game the past two seasons, Fletcher’s priority still looks misguided. The Flyers now have a $5.1 million annual cap hit on the books though the 2026-27 season.

There was a time when Ristolainen allowed scoring chances at a rate as high as any defenseman in the NHL. Tortorella and assistant coach Brad Shaw have put Ristolainen in a position to play a more responsible defensive game, but the salary is disproportionate for a defenseman who doesn’t offer enough offensive upside. He is currently well below his career average in ice time and points per game.

While the 6-foot-4 bruiser might not be a top-pair caliber defenseman, Elliotte Friedman doesn’t expect the Flyers to move him for the sake of subtracting the salary.

“I think they like Ristolainen. I think they see value for him. I think they really like his attitude, and people who’ve watched him go from Buffalo to Philadelphia, even though he’s been hurt, they say that Philadelphia has unlocked some things in him and found things with him that unfortunately, Buffalo couldn’t. The people who watch him a lot more than I do say there’s definitely an improved player there, a player who’s shown he’s willing to learn and has done so.” -Elliotte Friedman

A physical, right-handed defenseman like Rasmus Ristolainen could draw interest in the trade market from a playoff-bound team. It’s the salary that would slow any potential negotiations.

It’d be difficult to justify retaining salary in any trade. The Flyers will also pay Kevin Hayes $3.57 million through 2025-26. Do they want to pay another high-priced veteran to wear a different sweater?

They’d be better off keeping Ristolainen and using him in a minimal role through the rebuild. The salary cap should also rise about 5% over the offseason to lessen the blow of an overpriced contract.

The decision to sign Ristolainen to a five-year deal might never pay off for the Flyers. It doesn’t mean the new front office regime should force him out of town in a desperate move. They already saw what a desperate move can do to an organization when they brought him to the Flyers in 2021.

Stay/Go Verdict: Stay

97.5 The Fanatic, the flagship radio partner of the Philadelphia Flyers, provides news, analysis, and outlook on the 2023-24 season.


The 2023-24 Philadelphia Flyers have begun the “New Era of Orange” in the first long-term rebuild in franchise history. A new leadership group with Comcast Spectacor CEO Dan Hilferty, President Keith Jones, GM Danny Briere, and head coach John Tortorella has inspired a renewed sense of hope at the Wells Fargo Center after a brutal three-year stretch for an organization with a proud history.

Flyers Lineup in 2023-24

John Tortorella stands behind the bench for a group looking to develop young players as the core of the next great team that helps the Orange and Black back into Stanley Cup contention. 

Carter Hart and Joel Farabee now have significant NHL experience under their belts at a young age. They will progress into leaders for an organization waiting for stars to emerge.

Owen Tippett, Cam York, and Noah Cates all took major steps forward in 2022-23. The Flyers expect them to continue their development in the NHL in major roles for a rebuilding team in 2023-24.

Veterans Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson are looking to regain their footing after missing the entire season in 2022-23. Travis Konecny has also risen through the ranks to become a respected veteran in his eighth NHL season. Scott Laughton plays a key role as the only player to wear a letter on his jersey last season.

The New Era of Orange

The Flyers are a longshot to earn a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023-24. However, the group of rising young players provides an attractive draw at the Wells Fargo Center this year.

The long-term promise of Matvei Michkov and Cutter Gauthier joining these developing young players will encourage the fan base to move past the disaster of the past three years that forced the organization to reexamine itself and move towards a new era.

Forwards

Travis Konecny (RW)

Travis Konecny, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Elsa/Getty Images

Konecny is the sparkplug that embodies the attitude the Flyers need to carry through the rebuild. He set a career high with 31 goals last season, and Tortorella will count on him as one of the leaders of the team helping less-experienced players grow into bigger roles.

Sean Couturier (C)

Sean Couturier, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The former Selke Trophy winner missed the final 53 games of the 2021-22 season and the entire 2022-23 season. Couturier is the longest-tenured member of the Flyers and their most accomplished scorer. While the 30-year-old doesn’t necessarily fit the timeline of the organization’s rebuild, his contract runs through 2029-30. He must prove he’s capable of staying healthy to avoid becoming an albatross contract that handcuffs the Flyers.

Owen Tippett (RW)

Owen Tippett, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Tippett broke out with 27 goals in his first season as a full-time NHL player in 2022-23. The Flyers acquired the former 10th-overall pick in the trade that sent Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers in March 2022. He earned the respect of John Tortorella by taking the impact of his game to a new level, and he is one of the centerpieces of the organization’s rebuild.

Joel Farabee (LW)

Joel Farabee, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

An offseason neck injury and ensuing surgery certainly didn’t help Joel Farabee get into a rhythm during the 2022-23 season. The 23-year-old winger is back fully healthy after two underwhelming statistical offensive seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Cam Atkinson (RW)

Cam Atkinson, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The 2022-23 season was a nightmare for Cam Atkinson. An injury in training camp was supposed to be a short-term issue, but it ultimately kept him out for the entire season. The 5-foot-8 right winger is now 34 approaching the end of an impressive NHL career, but he can stay play a key role as a top-six forward and a penalty killer in 2023-24.

Morgan Frost (C)

Morgan Frost, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

He is one of the most polarizing players in the world of the Philadelphia Flyers. Morgan Frost struggled to find his footing early in his NHL career, but a strong offensive output in the second half of the 2022-23 season earned him a spot in the lineup in 2023-24. The former top prospect must prove himself during the span of his new two-year bridge contract to earn the respect of a demanding head coach who has consistently pushed him hard during their time together.

Scott Laughton (C/LW)

Scott Laughton, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Elsa/Getty Images

There are not many people who don’t have a tremendous amount of respect for Scott Laughton. Teammates, fans, coaches, and media praise the veteran because of his demeanor and leadership and his impressive journey to become a full-time NHL player. The reputation convinced Danny Briere to pass on a legitimate trade market and hang on to Laughton as part of the leadership core that could help the Flyers bridge to the future.

Noah Cates (C)

Noah Cates, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Noah Cates couldn’t have been more impressive during his rookie season in 2022-23. He was one of only three Flyers to play 82 games, and he established himself as a reliable shutdown defensive center. Cates received votes for the Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward) and the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year). Tortorella hopes to see his young center take another step offensively in 2023-24 after posting a solid numbers with 13 goals and 25 assists last season.

Tyson Foerster (RW)

Tyson Foerster, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The rebuild will depend on the development of young players with the talent to become contributors at the top of a lineup for a Stanley Cup contender, and Tyson Foerster will be a major factor. At age 21, he faces his extended chance to contribute at the NHL level after an impressive run in the Ontario Hockey League and the AHL. He has the ability to become the type of dangerous sniper who can be the focus of a power-play unit.

Bobby Brink (RW)

Bobby Brink, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Rob Carr/Getty Images

The surprise of the 2023 preseason earned himself a spot on the NHL roster to begin the season. The 2019 second-round pick led the NCAA in scoring two seasons ago, but an injury kept him from gaining momentum in 2022-23. Brink is a smaller playmaker who must compensate for the lack of size with excellent puck skills. He has his opportunity on a rebuilding Flyers team looking for young players to break out and prove themselves as full-time NHLers.

Nicolas Deslauriers (LW)

Nicolas Deslauriers, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

While the NHL has transitioned into a new era, some tough guys like Nicolas Deslauriers have maintained roles. He finished with only six goals and six assists in 80 games in 2022-23, but the organization values his experience and physicality enough to count on him as a fourth-line role player.

Ryan Poehling (C)

Ryan Poehling, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Flyers can afford to give young players like Ryan Poehling a shot to develop in a new setting during the rebuild. He brings legitimate speed to the bottom six after struggling to gain footing in his first four NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Garnet Hathaway (RW)

Garnet Hathaway, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Flyers signed Garnet Hathaway to a two-year contract on the first day of free agency in July 2023. He brings physicality and the experience of a Stanley Cup run with the Washington Capitals in 2018. At age 31, he could potentially be a short-term stopgap that helps the Flyers maintain a respectable competitive nature for the next two seasons while playoff contention looks unlikely.

Defensemen

Cam York (D)

Cam York, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

John Tortorella surprisingly sent Cam York to the AHL to begin the 2022-23 season, but the former first-round pick and University of Michigan star responded with a strong performance for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before finally getting called up for 54 games. He was arguably the best defenseman on the team during his time at the NHL level.

Travis Sanheim (D)

Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

There was skepticism surrounding Travis Sanheim during the 2023 offseason. Briere tried to trade him in a blockbuster deal with the St. Louis Blues that ultimately fell through. Sanheim has legitimately struggled in two of his past three seasons. The eight-year, $50 million he signed during the tenure of Chuck Fletcher runs through 2030-31. It forces pressure onto Sanheim to perform from a fan base that is justifiably skeptical of the long-term investment.

Rasmus Ristolainen (D)

Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The move to acquire Rasmus Ristolainen for a 2021 first-round pick, a 2023 second-round pick, and defenseman Robert Hagg seemed like a leap of faith at the time. The 6-foot-4 bruiser played a strong defensive game in 2022-23 with the help of assistant coach Brad Shaw. He hopes to prove his value to the Flyers during the final four years of a lucrative contract he signed in March 2022.

Nick Seeler (D)

Nick Seeler, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Seeler has impressively carved out a role for himself as a reliable third-pair defenseman during his tenure with the Flyers. He brings an element of physicality to the blue line, and his willingness to drop the gloves has stood out within the organization. He was Philadelphia’s nominee Masterton Trophy after the 2022-23 season because of his admirable journey through the pros after the Minnesota Wild drafted him in the fifth round in 2011.

Marc Staal (D)

Marc Staal, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Marc Staal has played 1101 regular-season games and 128 playoff games in 16 NHL seasons. Tortorella is looking for the veteran to play a part-time role to help pave the way for young blueliners like Cam York, Emil Andrae, and Egor Zamula in 2023-24.

Sean Walker (D)

Sean Walker, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Flyers acquired Sean Walker as part of the Ivan Provorov trade. Including Walker looked like a move for salary cap purposes. The 28-year-old righty is playing in the final season of his current contract in 2023-24 with a $2.65 million cap hit.

Emil Andrae (D)

Emil Andrae, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Most pundits didn’t project Emil Andrae on the roster to begin the 2023-24 season. However, the young Swedish defenseman has turned some heads with an aggressive offensive game. His development will prove whether he is a long-term piece of the blue line after the rebuild begins to take better shape.

Egor Zamula (D)

Egor Zamula, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Egor Zamula has his NHL future on the line in 2023-24. The Russian blueliner put on legitimate muscle during the 2023 offseason, and he has an opportunity to emerge from a group of young defensemen looking to earn playing time.

Goaltenders

Carter Hart (G)

Carter Hart, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The franchise goaltender has played more games at the age of 25 than many NHL goaltenders play in their entire careers. Hart compensates with a questionable defensive corps in front of him, and he’s proven himself in a limited tier of number one goaltenders in the modern landscape of the league. Briere desperately wants to hang onto Hart to stand between the pipes when the Flyers finally regain their footing as Stanley Cup contenders.

Sam Ersson (G)

Sam Ersson, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Sam Ersson earned his spot as a backup with an excellent showing in limited action in 2022-23. The flashes of potential forced the Flyers to entertain the idea of trading Carter Hart with consideration to the timeline of the rebuild.

Felix Sandstrom (G)

Felix Sandstrom, Philadelphia FlyersPhoto by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Sandstrom played 20 games as the primary backup to Carter Hart in 2022-23. He has a place within the organization as a third goaltender with considerable NHL experience who can step in for a limited time if injuries invade the crease in Philadelphia.

97.5 The Fanatic

97.5 The Fanatic, the official radio partner of the Philadelphia Flyers, provides a weekly roundup with news, analysis, and the outlook on the 2023-24 season.

Colin Newby is a contributor for 97.5 The Fanatic who transitions Beasley Media's radio content onto digital platforms. His work includes on-site coverage of the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phillies.