Multiple Teams Interested In Flyers' Veteran Defenseman

The Philadelphia Flyers aren't quite out of the playoff race in the East this season, but they aren't exactly in a great spot coming out of the Olympic break either. The team sits eight points back with one game in hand, but have only won three of their last 10 games, have five teams to jump, and there's interest in at least one of their players that the Flyers would be able to get a solid return for.

Anthony Di Marco said, "I've heard five or six teams have checked in on Rasmus Ristolainen over the last 14 days or so, and word is starting to circulate that interest is on the upswing."

This is great news for the Flyers as they may have a bidding war on their hands and the veteran defenseman could go for a bit more than initially expected or the team had hoped. With guys like Jamie Drysdale able to take on a larger role, Emil Andrae waiting for a full time role, and prospects like Christian Kyrou and Oliver Bonk, who both play the right side, coming eventually, the Flyers will be just fine and can continue to build through young talent rather than hold onto Ristolainen, who is having a better season than he has normally had in Philadelphia.

The Flyers should take advantage of the situation, and Ristolainen, while only suiting up for 19 games, has a decent mix of offense and defense. He was once a highly skilled offensive player. The 31-year-old is more defensively focused now, but he is under contract for one more year at $5.1 million AAV.

Playoff-bound teams with some extra cap space through injury could absolutely be at the top of the list with interest in Ristolainen. Or even a fringe playoff team that wants to give themselves a better chance this season and have the veteran for next season as well, adding a good second pairing defenseman and having one less thing to worry about in the offseason. It remains to be seen if Ristolainen is for sure going to get traded. It would be a waste if not. But one other thing to watch for is if the Flyers, who have a lot of cap space, are going to retain any of his cap hit to increase the price further.