Insider links Maple Leafs to hulking Flyers defenseman

Last season, especially in the early parts, the Maple Leafs were down several key contributors on the back-end. They rectified that by acquiring Jake McCabe, Erik Gustafsson, and Luke Schenn ahead of the trade deadline. This year it seems like the pickings are going to be slim with some of the top pending UFA defensemen, like Filip Hronek and Brady Skjei, playing for contending teams.

In a recent report, Elliotte Friedman has suggested that Brad Treliving might have turned to the Philadelphia Flyers, who are in the midst of a rebuild, but have been playing well beyond expectations this season. They currently carry 3 expiring contracts on defense in Nick Seeler, Sean Walker, and Marc Staal and while they've been interested in Walker, Friedman points out that they've also touched base on Rasmus Ristolainen.

The former first round pick became the whipping boy and scapegoat of the Buffalo Sabres before his eventual move to the Flyers in the summer of 2021. His play had dropped off, he had collapsed under the pressure, and he became a real liability on the ice. That was evidenced in his first year with the Flyers as well, but it seems that John Tortorella might have been able to help him out after all.

Friedman alluded to the fact that the Flyers are not so eager to move the big blueliner and aren't in any particular rush to make a move while they're playing good hockey. He mentions that they don't want to throw a "stink bomb" while the Flyers are building.

It's also very important to note that, aside from Ristolainen, Philadelphia only has Travis Sanheim and Cam York signed through next season. Ristolainen is a right-shot defenseman and the new front office and coaching staff like the player very much, even though he carries a cap hit of $5.1 million for the next 3 seasons.

Even if the Maple Leafs were interested, they would need to make the money work. The Flyers have already retained salary on Kevin Hayes and Tony DeAngelo this season, leaving them with one more retention slot. That would also mean Hayes and Ristolainen would cost them 2 slots for the next 2-3 seasons. So unless Toronto can take on the whole $5.1 million, a deal will be tricky.