One of the big storylines going into the NHL trade deadline on March 21 is the status of Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. The 27-year-old, who the Flyers acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in the offseason for a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick and Robert Hagg, is in the final year of his contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it’s unclear what the Flyers plan to do with him as the deadline approaches.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, though, negotiations between the Flyers and Ristolainen are ongoing. In the latest edition of his 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman shed some light on the situation.