Rasmus Ristolainen and Scott Laughton have heard their names in trade rumors for years. Is this the year they are finally dealt at the deadline?
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With less than six weeks until the NHL trade deadline, the hockey world was thrown for a wild ride last night.
Mikko Rantanen, one of the Colorado Avalanche’s best players, was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. A move that saw Martin Necas, a similar type of player in Carolina, go the opposite way.
While the Flyers did not have the star power to send back to be even in the conversation for Rantanen – unless Matvei Michkov or Travis Konecny was going the other way – its a move that will make some Flyers names get louder on the market.
Rasmus Ristolainen and Scott Laughton names are nothing new to trade rumors. Both names have been highlighted for what seems like a decade now to be available on the market.
Over the past few seasons, both names have been a hot ticket. However, both have remained in Philadelphia.
Ristolainen and Laughton have gotten used to the fact that their names will continue to come up in trade rumors for obvious reasons.
Obviously, its the nature of the business side of professional sports. But, on the other side, both realize their age may not line up exactly with the Flyers rebuild plans.
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Laughton, who has been very honest about the rumors in the past, thanked GM Danny Briere last deadline for keeping him in the loop. Mentioning Briere had a sit down with him and told him the teams plan for the deadline.
GM Danny Briere and head coach John Tortorella are both on record multiple times stating just that. They both believe it is only fair to the player to know what is going on.
While nothing is imminent, the feeling this season seems to be one, if not both, have a better chance of being dealt. Especially with the cap going up again next season.
Ristolainen, in particular, would have been harder for the Flyers to move if the cap stayed the same.
The Finnish defenseman has two more years remaining at what now is a very reasonable $5.1M AAV for a Top-4 defenseman. Not to mention, a right handed one – which are hard to find.
Laughton, on the other hand, will be very easy for the Flyers to move.
However, the price is what always seems to be the sticking point as to why the Flyers have yet to move him.
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The one thing Laughton brings that the Flyers have put a lot of stock in is his leadership. Something that has the Flyers putting a high price tag – a 1st round pick – to acquire his services.
Whether or not Danny Briere can get that, has yet to come close to that in previous times, remains to be seen. But, Briere is a patient GM and has shown from his previous deals that he will not budge just to trade a player.
Last season, Briere held out until the day before the deadline to send Sean Walker to Colorado. Holding out for a 1st round pick, which was the eventual price the Avalanche paid.
Patience will once again be his best strength if the Flyers will get what they want to trade Ristolainen or Laughton.
But, as the rebuild continues towards year number four, that patience will be tested as the results will have to start to come sooner rather than later.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mitchell Leff – Getty Images
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