The type of defenseman Craig Berube values is reportedly available and with term
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
According to Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff, Rasmus Ristolainen is available for trade, and not only does he fit Craig Berube's style but is more than a rental.
There's been a lot of debate over who the Toronto Maple Leafs could target for their defense this year, with Rasmus Andersson and Dougie Hamilton the two names linked heaviest to the team, and it feels like more a matter of when, not if either man will get traded.
The Maple Leafs can't really afford either one unless they get fairly lucky and creative, and there may be some backlash over what goes the other way in order to acquire them.
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However, there seems to be another defenseman who has popped up on the market who can offer a great two-way game, a relentless shot-blocker and someone who they can rely on for the next few seasons.
According to the Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco, the Philadelphia Flyers are potentially willing to not only trade defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen but also aren't shy about retaining on his salary:
Not being a rental, Ristolainen would give any prospective acquiring team two seasons with him; with the cap continuing to rise, $5.1 million for a top-four defenseman for a season and a half is palatable.
Additionally, I have heard the Flyers are willing to retain on Ristolainen - though that will come at a cost.
Additionally, I have heard the Flyers are willing to retain on Ristolainen - though that will come at a cost.
That would be a huge improvement on the backend for the Maple Leafs as Ristolainen would immediately come in and be their #1 defenseman.
Toronto needs to at least remain vigilant if Ristolainen is available
He would replace the tenacity and defensive acumen of Chris Tanev, is good enough offensively, is a big body at 6'4, and under contract for two more years.
Ristolainen, 31, has three points in 12 games this season after working his way back from injury.
In 788 games, he has 307 points (56 goals, 251 assists) while adding 1,276 blocks, 1,915 hits, but an unsightly minus-180 though that has to do with his time on a miserable Sabres team that finished last most seasons.
Plus, if Philly is willing to take on some salary, that would drastically reduce his $5.1-million cap hit, and even at 30% would only be a hit of $3.57-million going forward; a respectable amount to pay for a defenseman of his ilk.
Toronto has no problem working with the Flyers either as we saw them acquire Scott Laughton at last year's deadline for Nikita Grebenkin (and a first). While Ristolainen shouldn't cost a first, if the Leafs want to bring him in it may cost Ben Danford.
That might be worth it given that he's not a rental, has proven to be a solid-two way player and can help out on both the PK and PP units.
So if Philadelphia feels that Rasmus Ristolainen is worth trading, then the Maple Leafs should be one of the first ones knocking on GM Danny Briere's door.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Craig Berube's praise for a polarizing Maple Leafs forward could quiet the trade rumors
Craig Berube's praise for a polarizing Maple Leafs forward could quiet the trade rumors
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 13|792 ANSWERS The type of defenseman Craig Berube values is reportedly available and with term Should the Maple Leafs target Rasmus Ristolainen or another defenseman? | ||
| Ristolainen | 350 | 44.2 % |
| Someone Else | 442 | 55.8 % |
| List of polls | ||