Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers Rumors Intensify with Key Players Drawing Trade Interest
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere is going to be a busy guy in the coming weeks and months.
According to reports, two of the Flyers’ most coveted assets around the NHL, center Scott Laughton and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, are beginning to draw significant trade interest.
In TSN’s latest episode of “Insider Trading”, NHL insider Darren Dreger shared the latest Flyers rumors going around, touching on Laughton and Ristolainen in the process.
“Danny Briere is one of the more active GMs and he’s taken a lot of calls,” Dreger revealed. “There’s a ton of interest, as we know, in veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. He’s a top-4 D and he’s got a couple of years after this year in term. That also checks a box in his favor.”
Term had previously been reported to be the one obstacle in moving Ristolainen, given that he is carrying a $5.1 million cap hit. Perhaps the 30-year-old has played so well that the opinions of other teams have dramatically changed in the last few weeks?
Flyers could also trade Scott Laughton
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Laughton, the well-respected leader, could also be dealt by the Flyers. This has been a rumor for years, but nothing has come of it. Could this be the year the Flyers decide to turn an eye towards the future and get younger?
“Here’s another name that’s been out there on-and-off over the last couple of years, but back on, and not that Philadelphia wants to get rid of him,” Dreger continued. “But Scott Laughton is a centerman that is drawing a crowd. Lots of interest in him, but again, not eager to move him. So, if they have to listen closer to the deadline, it’s going to take a premium draft pick or, likely, a top young prospect or NHL player.”
Adding another top draft pick to the already stocked cupboard would create an interesting dynamic for the Flyers. A first-round pick or second-round pick would give them four in those respective rounds in 2025, and with the team gasping for air in the offensive zone, it would be increasingly likely the Flyers flip those picks for an NHL-ready player, likely at the center position.
Moving Laughton, of course, means that things will get worse before they get better down the middle of the ice.
Ristolainen could be more of a victim of the numbers game, with young defensemen like Emil Andrae and Helge Grans impressing in limited action.
If the Flyers want to rebuild properly, they need to find out what they have in those players and see if they would be reason enough to pivot and utilize assets elsewhere.
With Risto, IMO, Danny can get a 1st round pick if he is willing to pick up a sizable amount of the remaining contract….perhaps at least 40%. At 40%, that will give the team $3M in added cap space for the next two years. If he picked up to 60% of the contract, then it is $2M in added cap space. A team like the Kracken or Flames out West could be interested parties since they are on the cusp right now of play-off contention. Maple Leafs were interested 9 months ago but Risto got hurt and they now may have moved on.
On the flip side, if they retained any monies from Risto’s contract it would be 2M or 3M in dead cap space, which they are trying to eliminate. They got a first round pick last year for Sean Walker without retaining any money. If you ask me, the way that Risto is playing this year is at worst comparable to how Walker played last year and since Risto has term versus Walker being a UFA, Risto should be worth more than just a low first round pick.
Funny how everyone refers to the Flyers “not retaining $” on the Walker deal. They took a terrible $4 million a year contract in Johansen!!
That is true …Ryan Johansen’s contract was a big thing in that transaction…..still when the league’s litigation is completed, the Flyers may get a percent of relief vs the cap.
The issue……lottery teams will not trade for Risto….they are in rebuild mode….the taker teams are those trying to get into the play-offs and those contenders who right now have set their play-off almost in stone….ie Devils, Canes, Jets, Wild Vegas…..they are the ones that will make a play for Risto. So teams like the Hawks, Sharks , Ducks, Preds, Canadiens will not pony up for a Risto. So with play-off teams you will get that low first round selection.
Max retention is 50%. To retain more than that, a third team would have to be involved.
Thanks for that info…..then I can see the 50% mark set for the Flyers….a $2.5M savings vs the cap….they need every penny they can get.
Flyers already have a ton of dead cap for the future, they really should not be adding more. It’s gotten to the point where it is hindering a rebuild. This cannot be “the process” and us doing this for another three years on top of the three we’ve gone through. The previous regimes of Hextall and Fletcher have proven to be beyond incompetant
No irration irrational moves.
Trading away young players who are in the doghouse of a coach who has his bags packed by the door is what the aflyers of the 2000s did