A source close to the Edmonton Oilers suggested trading Rasmus Ristolainen to the Flyers. It was shot down in a hurry.
On Wednesday, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff and Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now discussed the Edmonton Oilers’ need to recruit a right-shot defenseman for the next campaign. Both acknowledged that Ty Emberson will likely surprise everyone this season and make an impact, but Stauffer questioned whether a Philadelphia player like to Rasmus Ristolainen might be a better fit.
If the Flyers were willing to make changes and possibly keep paying a player like Ristolainen, Stauffer questioned Seravalli. The Oilers would require the Flyers to keep money from the trade, perhaps between 40 and 50 percent, given the $5.1 million cap hit for the following three seasons. Though Seravalli didn’t think it would matter, that is a lot to ask.
He responded:
“I believe the Flyers are amenable to a wide range of options. To be completely honest with you, I believe the Oilers can do much better, especially with Ristolainen returning from an injury that kept him out of action for 51 games last season.
Seravalli continued, saying that Ristolainen has had a difficult time in Philadelphia despite his size. According to him, the fact that his third contract decreased in AAV is a clear indication that he is heading in the wrong way. Although he can see why Ristolainen is being discussed in relation to the Oilers, he doesn’t believe it’s a wise course of action.
Would the Oilers Even Benefit from a Ristolainen Trade?
The Oilers were interested in a right-shot defenseman with some remaining time on his contract, as Stauffer had suggested earlier in the week. They also don’t intend to add players that are inferior to the ones they currently have. How good is Ristolainen’s game if the Flyers are ready to let him go for pennies on the dollar?
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Likewise, why not give Ty Emberson, who is eager to prove himself and is a player in Edmonton, a chance to establish himself as the right-shot, second-pair blueliner the Oilers are searching for?
It would be preferable for Edmonton to sign a second defenseman to a two-way, league-minimum contract or a PTO.
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