Former 8th overall pick hits the trade market, and the Maple Leafs are interested

With the Toronto Maple Leafs dealing with a Chris Tanev injury, it looks like the Philadelphia Flyers have a perfect trade target.

Now that Chris Tanev is out of the Maple Leafs lineup and continues to struggle to stay healthy, the team faces a difficult decision.

Trading for a right-handed defenseman could be the right move for this team. The defensive core is old, and getting younger is imperative. However, there aren't a ton of young right-handed defensemen on the market.

Well, the Maple Leafs may have just lucked out thanks to the Philadelphia Flyers' 0-5-2 start. According to Frank Seravalli, Rasmus Ristolainen will not be extended and will be hitting the trade market sooner rather than later.

The team does not currently have plans to extend defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen's contract; He will be one of the leading trade deadline commodities - perhaps even sooner if the Flyers continue to struggle

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Ristolainen is a 31-year-old defenseman who was previously drafted eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Draft.

He consistently put up 40 points per season with the Sabres, and since joining the Philadelphia Flyers, he has become more of a shutdown defenseman, with his offensive production slowing down.

Why does Ristolainen fit with the Maple Leafs?

Quite simply, Ristolainen is a 6-foot-4 behemoth who would immediately make an impact on this team's blue line thanks to his large frame and ability to generate offense.

Tanev is not a creator on offense. Therefore, Ristolainen would be an immediate upgrade. He also has a better track record at staying healthy and is an overall younger guy, which is what the Leafs need.

However, the one downside here is that the Leafs would need to immediately sign Ristolainen to a new contract. He currently makes $5.1 million per season, although that number could be going up on his next deal.

At this time, the Maple Leafs haven't expressed public interest in Ristolainen. However, they have been linked to him in the past, and with a right-handed defenseman becoming a need, Ristolainen is someone the Leafs' front office needs to at least have a conversation about.

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