Photo Credit: Rasmus Ristolainen Twitter (@rasmrist55)
Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher was left with a gaping hole on the blue line when Matt Niskanen officially announced his retirement one day before the NHL Draft was set to commence approximately two years ago. Niskanen was a very reliable Right-Handed Defenseman that was on the top pairing, while being paired with a work-horse in Ivan Provorov.
Fletcher approached this past offseason trying to replace Niskanen, and he appeared to have accomplished that with obtaining Ryan Ellis and adding Rasmus Ristolainen to the fold. The Flyers were in a free fall, and beaten on a regular basis. Gone were the days of some Flyers players getting pummeled and cheaply barreled into, as Ristolainen hits everything that moves.
Will he be traded by the trade deadline?
Before Chuck Fletcher’s and Dave Scott’s press conference on Wednesday. Ristolainen was seen as a player that could possibly be moved by the trade deadline in an attempt to recoup some assets that were lost from the trade of Ristolainen, as his contract expires at years end.
However, Fletcher said, “The goal when we traded for him was to keep him.” This quote is telling, it appears that Fletcher and the Flyers will try to re-sign Ristolainen before the trade deadline commences on March 21st. Do not be surprised if the Flyers announce a contract extension in the coming weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
Now does this mean Ristolainen will definitely re-sign with the Flyers and not test free agency…no, nothing is guaranteed, however, people should be cautious to think that Ristolainen will automatically be traded. If the Flyers and Ristolainen cannot come to terms for a contract extension, look for the Flyers to be able to fetch a first and a third round picks for his services. A comparable trade for what he brings to the table is David Savard. Savard was able to fetch a first and third at last year’s trade deadline, and it shall be no different with Ristolainen to be traded to a hungry Stanley Cup contender. Moreover, both defensemen are right-handed defensemen, which most NHL teams covet.
“Risto’s” Offerings
“Risto” has offered the Flyers another dimension, and that has been made evident this season as Ristolainen hits and gives the Flyers an element that they were missing for years.
He has really lived up to his billing of smashing people into the boards, and it has led to some odd-man rushes the other way. For the season he registered 135 hits in 39 games played for an average of 3.46 hits per game. Holy moly, the Flyers have not seen this in years.
Moreover, Ristolainen has also played solid defensively, and has earned a call to the top pairing with Ivan Provorov at times. His gap control has been effective, and he has not blown many coverages and looks quite comfortable out there for the orange and black, “You always want to play against those top teams to see where you are at,” Ristolainen said earlier in the season.
“Risto” eats minutes, and that is what the Flyers needed, as he has averaged 21:00 of ice time per night this season. He pairs effectively with Travis Sanheim, as Ristolainen sees sort of a reduced role with the orange and black. Contrary to some belief, Ristolainen has played solid hockey while donning a Flyers jersey, so it comes as no surprise that Fletcher would want to lock him up before he hits free agency.
In Other Flyers News:
Isaac Ratcliffe will make his NHL debut Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Terrible, simply a terrible decision. His stats are just bad his whole career. He is worth 2m but will get 5m from dummy Cf. But what do I expect from a team that is stuck in 1975.
If we can get a 1 and 3 then it is a no Brainer, trade him. I’d be very surprised if we get a 1 back….