The Edmonton Oilers are said to be looking into trading for Rasmus Ristolainen. They might need to offer more than another team from the original six to get him.
As the deadline for NHL trades gets closer and the break for the Olympics is over, the Edmonton Oilers are likely to make some moves. It didn’t take long for them to pop up in trade talks, as Anthony Di Marco from Daily Faceoff mentioned that the Oilers have shown interest in Rasmus Ristolainen, a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Di Marco said that the Oilers and the Boston Bruins have both asked about him, but so far, neither team has been a strong contender for him. However, bringing him to Edmonton does seem like a good idea on paper.
Why Ristolainen Would Be a Good Fit for Edmonton
The Oilers have been searching for a right-handed defenseman to pair up with Darnell Nurse for a long time. Although Evan Bouchard has proven himself alongside Mattias Ekholm, the second pair of defensemen has been uncertain, especially in tough playoff games.
At 31 years old, Ristolainen is big (6 feet 4 inches) and tough, which is something the Oilers’ defense could use more of. Even though he isn’t the best at keeping possession of the puck, with a goals-for percentage of 31.25 at even strength, it’s essential to look at the bigger picture. The Flyers have been having a hard time defending, and Ristolainen has often had to take on a challenging defensive role.
What Ristolainen would bring to the Oilers is clear: toughness, skill in killing penalties, and the ability to help protect the goalie. With Paul Coffey coming back to the team to mentor the defensemen, Edmonton may believe they can help Ristolainen improve and give him a better-defined job than what he has in Philadelphia.
Where He Would Fit in the Lineup
If this deal goes through, the ideal spot for Ristolainen would be next to Nurse on the second defense pair. This setup would let the Oilers keep Ekholm and Bouchard paired up on the first line, which has been really strong in the league when they’re both healthy.
The lineup might appear like this:
Having Ristolainen on the team would likely lessen some of the defensive work for Nurse, allowing him to skate more freely when moving the puck. At the same time, Jake Walman, playing on the third pair, would help give the Edmonton team a more balanced defense overall.
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