The NHL trade deadline is heating up — and Rasmus Ristolainen is at the center of a full-blown bidding war.
After a dominant, statement-making performance for Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman has skyrocketed up trade boards across the league. Now, Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere finds himself in a position of power with the March 6th deadline fast approaching.
Multiple contenders are circling:
The Dallas Stars need a physical right-shot defenseman for a deep Western Conference run.
The Edmonton Oilers are desperate to fix their blue line — but the salary cap is a major obstacle.
The Detroit Red Wings have the cap space, prospects, and picks to outbid everyone.
With one year left on his deal and the Flyers willing to retain salary, Ristolainen isn’t just a rental — he’s potentially a two-year playoff weapon.
Is this the biggest trade to go down before the deadline?
Who has the inside track?
And what will it actually cost to land him?
Drop your trade packages in the comments 👇
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20 Comments
Give me Jason Robertson
I love the player Risto has become. but his value will never be higher. Think Sean Walker. Get what we can, while we can.
Ristolainen remains a Flyer!!
I hope he does get traded. He's been in the league a long time and deserves to finally play in the playoffs. 👍
Number 25 pick is useless best land a young drafted D man in someone's system or a Center with high potential but young
I think the Risto rumors are just noise. I think the Flyers are trying to drum up interest but there isn't any. If they can get a 2nd round pick for him, I'll be fine.
Id take one of 2 options. Either trade him for a young up and coming center that can grow into a 1c or trade him for a 1st in this years draft giving them the flexibility to move up in the draft for Lawerence Tynnan. Hes probably gonna be in the top 5. The flyers most glaring need is center followed by 1D.
Id rather get the center through trade though and have more chances to get high skill Dman.
Hopefully at the TDL Danny trims alot of players that don't fit the rebuild. I'm tired of the team sitting on assets instead of making room for young players to make the club.
Risto and a Pick for Robertson.
Ok it’s Risto we’re talking about he’s a career injury guy why would any team toss us a 1st rounder I mean he’s never played a playoff game😮
Rist was wasted here especially with last year now Tocks offense pairing is just hurting the defense,,,Rist is a Freight train out there with and without the puck, he's gotta cover for,,Sanhiem and everybody's else turnover and love to see him in Edmonton but them bad contracts and dead money 💵 uggg could throw in Brink too he'd pull that 3rd line up to become dangerous,, great shot slow with the puck on his stick though 😮
Send Tippet to Buffalo and Rist to Edmonton,, he'd kill it In Edmonton If,,Jarvy can become average
Not sure the Oilers would be a good trade partner..not enough would come back by what I can see
They better not hold onto to Risto or ill be beyond annoyed. Trade Risto to the highest bidder then bring up Oilver Bonk. Let's go!
I want Risto w50% retained to DAL for LD Lian Bichsel, a 2nd and a 3rd. The Flyers have been looking for a left shot LD and Bichsel is a towering 6’7”. A former 1st rd pick; he is just now entering the league with 51 nhl games under his belt. Likely a top 4D man; he could guard the Flyers blue line for a long time.
I REALLY want them to trade Risto but I'm not holding my breath. Danny has shown he will hold out for his price which I like but with Risto's injury history sooner is better to off-load him
Again HW always informative and structured discussion, great job dude. will miss Risto, even after I've been saying trade him past 2 years. Yeah we should get what we can for him whether that is now or this summer. One thing about waiting til summer is, they might be able to package him with someone else to Dallas for Robertson. I don't think Dallas will part with him at the deadline since they're a playoff team. But could be screwed situation if Dallas finds away to make cap space to keep Robertson, and would have to focus somewhere else.
I would like to see Bonk/McDonald/Murchison get some NHL time and see how they play.
I like Ristolainen, I even have his Sabres jersey hanging up on my wall. When he's motivated he's great but when he's not he checks out.
Dallas needs a top 4 D man for certain and imo have no chance of wining a cup w/o one.Det is messed up they don't need a D man they need 2 forwards that can cycle more time in the opponent end the same thing the habs need.
IDK is Risto is THE guy Dallas needs they need a quicker faster D man like a Matheson type that can skate it out of danger.I am also not sure what Dallas would even offer w/o making their team worse.Dallas most certainly would need salary retention because they are going to be in cap trouble next year.
My intuition says Dallas, but you have to pay attention to the Wings assets.