Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Defenseman’s Situation 'Coming to a Head' with Flyers, Says Insider

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated May 31, 2026 11:59 AM ET

Nick Kypreos says he’s keeping an eye on the situation in Philadelphia between the Flyers and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Noting that a trade was talked about but didn’t happen this past season, there may not be much time now to make a final decision and trade talks could be revisited.

Kypreos wrote in his recent trade board column:

“Rasmus Ristolainen has been another regular on this trade board for a while, but he remained in Philadelphia because the Flyers couldn’t get their asking price and, this season, were a competitive playoff team. Now this situation is coming to a head, though. Ristolainen will be going into the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and there is little reason to believe he’ll re-sign with the Flyers.”

If the Flyers know he’s not staying, it seems likely that they shop him sooner than later, potentially making a move at the NHL Draft if there’s a trade available.

Kyper adds, “Turning 32 in October, Ristolainen is a big right-shot defenceman, and he had a pretty good season for Philadelphia, contributing to the team’s success.” It seems logical that he could be a trade deadline sell, but the Flyers might be better off moving him now. His value is still high coming off this past season’s play and a team might want him for a full year before deciding on whether or not to extend him. So too, there’s a risk that if he doesn’t have a strong 2026-27 campaign, he could be much harder to move.

He’s got this last season at $5.1 million on his contract, and if he plays well, he’ll be looking for a bump on a new deal. Any team that acquires him is going to want to be sure he’s worth the investment.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: