A first big name leaves the NHL trade market

Eleven days before the NHL trade deadline, TSN reporter Darren Dreger reported that Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has agreed to a five-year contract with his team, which will earn him $5.1 million per year. (25.5 million in total)

It's official.

Ristolainen, who would have become an unrestricted free agent this summer and who was apparently was going to be traded by the Flyers, ultimately remains in Philadelphia and his name is removed from those available on the trade market.

This is also good news for the Montreal Canadiens, because the fewer good defenders there are available on the market, the more those who are there increase their value... And also, it increases the chances of creating an nice overbid for the teams that are among the "sellers".


It therefore increases, in a way, the value of Ben Chiarot. Another impact for the Habs: it practically eliminates the Flyers as a team where to potentially trade Jeff Petry.



More details to come...