Despite their interest, the Maple Leafs should avoid trading for this star

Regardless of their advantage, the Maple Leafs ought to try not to exchange for Rasmus Ristolainen

Its an obvious fact Brad Treliving is attempting to overhaul the Toronto Maple Leafs blue line. During his recent media appearances, the general manager of the Leafs has been quite open about his interest in a trade. However, he has made it abundantly clear that he will not overpay for a player or simply make a trade to make a trade.

The acquisition of Rasmus Ristolainen, a right-handed defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers, is one trade he should avoid.

As per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Maple Leafs have investigated Ristolainen as an exchange target and Elliotte had this to say in a new 32 Contemplations:

I really do think Toronto has investigated Philadelphia’s Rasmus Ristolainen, who has three seasons staying on a five-year, $25.5-million agreement. Be that as it may, I don’t completely accept that the Flyers are anxious to part with him, and there’s no scramble for them to do anything while their gathering is playing great. This shouldn’t imply that it couldn’t be something not too far off, however when the group is contending hard, obtain great outcomes and by and large doing what is being asked of them — for what good reason toss a smell bomb into your changing area?

The Flyers have shocked numerous this season as they sit a 14-10-2 record, really great for second in the Metropolitan division. GM Daniel Briere is focusing on re-instrument and get more youthful, however this shouldn’t imply that, as Friedman specifies, he’s hoping to flip around his changing area as the group is creating.

Ristolainen is excessively expensive and excessively unsafe

One way or the other you take a gander at it, Ristolainen will be exorbitant for the Maple Leafs to procure and Treliving needs to turn his consideration elsewhere. The 6-foot-4 defenseman is owed $5.1 million every year through the 2026-27 season. While he holds no exchange assurance, some would contend his agreement gets the job done.

Ristolainen’s yearly compensation doesn’t match his result and if the Leafs have any desire to get the Flyers to hold some compensation all through the following four seasons, that will be exorbitant for Treliving to make due. Think no less than one first-round pick, or maybe even a top possibility. Two things the Maple Leafs ought to try not to exchange as of now.

Such a long ways in six games this season, Ristolainen has recorded only one help, 11 hits and seven hindered shots. He struggled a secret injury to begin the season and has missed 20 of Philly’s games this season. Nothing shouts hazardous exchange target in excess of a d-man who has a secret physical issue to begin the season. In addition, he is prone to injuries and has not played a full season since 2015-16, which is eight years ago.

The Finnish blueliner plays well when he’s healthy, but the Maple Leafs shouldn’t be looking for players who play well “when he’s healthy.” They need steadiness, have proactively dropped a lot of man games because of injury and Treliving ought to attempt to try not to add a veteran with some unacceptable sort of history.

Back to the numbers: Ristolainen has one assist so far this season, but last year he had 20 points in 74 games and 16 points in 66 games. He’s not an all offense sort of safeguard and his sandpaper or the edge he plays with is possible why Treliving even thought to be a move in any case. You can’t show 6-foot-4, and an eagerness to sludge it up in the grimy region of the ice. Notwithstanding, these sorts of basic numbers ought to be very disturbing for the Leafs metal:

So in light of all his details, he’s result projects as a third-matching d-man. Yikes. Additionally, since he was a 40-point blueliner in Buffalo, his offensive production has decreased season after season. As a result, this would be an extremely risky transaction, and frankly, Treliving ought to avoid “risky trades” as much as is humanly possible.

The gamble doesn’t end at the agreement and wounds, you can circle Stanley Cup Season finisher creation in also. Ristolainen hasn’t played a postseason game starting around 2013-14 when he was an individual from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey Association. While some will contend his style of play is appropriate for the end of the season games, it’s difficult to express what’s in store when he’s never played hockey when the games make the biggest difference.

Treliving should avoid trading top prospects if the Flyers were to retain a significant portion of Ristolainen’s contract if the Maple Leafs were to trade for him. Indeed, even with the compensation cap going up more than $4 million next season, Treliving has different needs to stress over including re-marking William Nylander, tying down one more goaltender and settle on choice to re-sign or supplant any semblance of Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi and TJ Brodie are forthcoming free specialists.

In the event that the Flyers eat half of Ristolainen’s $5.1 yearly compensation, a huge sugar might should be incorporated and that could mean the Flyers request one of Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten. An outright 100 percent hard pass. The 21-year-old Marlies defenseman, Topi Niemela, ought to be as high on the possibility list as Treliving goes with regards to adding an accomplished NHL blueliner.

Wrench tossed into Treliving’s arrangements

While it will not decrease his premium in tracking down several competent defensemen on the exchange market, Joseph Woll going down with what has all the earmarks of being a huge physical issue is something going to gather a ton of consideration from Treliving.

Ilya Samsonov has been extremely conflicting to begin this season and he hasn’t polished much as of late on account of a disease. Martin Jones made his first appearance in the NHL this season on Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators. Although he played a solid game, helping the Leafs win, Jones has a.870 save percentage in five games with the Marlies. Treliving should hold a nearby eye to his wrinkle these following couple of games to decide whether he’s set up his group for progress with Samsonov and Jones conveying the heap.

With respect to Ristolainen, the Maple Leafs ought to try not to exchange for him. His agreement is troubling, his physical issue recurrence is questionable and he’s an outright trump card with regards to acting in the Stanley Cup End of the season games. Include the reality to make an arrangement work, Treliving will probably need to move one of his top possibilities and to be honest, that is not a value the Leafs GM ought to pay for a player of Ristolainen’s type.