Rasmus Ristolainen, a Flyers’ veteran defenseman, stays put with the team past the 2026 NHL trade deadline (which closed at 3 p.m. ET on March 6, 2026).
Despite heavy trade rumors leading up to the deadline—he was one of the most discussed defensemen available, with interest from teams like the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and others—the Flyers held firm on their high asking price. Reports indicated they were seeking a return comparable to a first-round pick plus a prospect (or equivalent assets), similar to past deals like the Brandon Carlo trade. The market for right-shot defensemen thinned out with other moves (e.g., Tyler Myers to Edmonton), but no deal met Philadelphia’s terms.
- The Flyers were open to listening but not desperate to move him, as he has one more year left on his contract ($5.1M cap hit).
- Ristolainen himself expressed a preference to stay, focusing on what he can control and playing well post-Olympics.
- In the end, no trade materialized for him. The Flyers made other moves (e.g., trading Bobby Brink and Nic Deslauriers, acquiring David Jiricek and others), but Ristolainen remains in Philly.
This gives the Flyers flexibility—they control the timeline and could revisit trade talks in the offseason or next season if circumstances change. For now, he’s still a Flyer.
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