When Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen had off-season surgery for a lower-body injury, it put fear on the Senators' defense. Reasonable concern that Jensen could have injury issues in the future is understandable.
Rumors have been speculating that the Senators will target a right handed defenseman this Summer in case Jensen has issues moving forward. The Senators have already been linked to Aaron Eklbad of the Florida Panthers to sign in free agency.
One defenseman who the Senators have been rumored to be interested in is Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers. While it could be best for the Senators to stay away from the 30-year-old defenseman, there might be a reason how the Senators could make it work for a potential trade for Ristolainen.
Flyers would likely need to retain salary on Ristolainen's contract to have a chance to make a trade work
If the Flyers want to trade Ristolainen to the Senators, one thing must be done for the Senators to consider making a trade, which is the Flyers must retain salary on Ristolainen's contract to make it work.
Ristolainen's contract is arguably the worst on the Flyers roster at a salary of $5.1 million per year. Ristolainen is under contract until 2027. With the Flyers currently rebuilding, the team could seek to trade away a large contract.
The Flyers did retain contract on a bad contract while making a trade before not too long ago. When the Flyers traded Kevin Hayes in 2023 to the St. Louis Blues, the Flyers retained half of Hayes' salary. Hayes had a $7.14 million cap hit per year at the time of the trade. Another trade retaining salary for Ristolainen might have to happen.
If the Senators were to trade for Ristolainen, it could potentially put an end to two tenures for Ottawa defensemen. Both Travis Hamonic and Dennis Gilbert are unrestricted free agents this Summer.
Trading for Ristolainen could have the Senators not have any interest in re-signing both Hamonic and Gilbert, or just one of them. Particularly Hamonic because Hamonic is a right handed defenseman unlike Gilbert.
Ristolainen will still be a player to watch for this Summer on the Flyers whether they want to trade him or not. With the Senators having interest in a right handed defenseman, eyes can be on the Senators if they pull a trade on Ristolainen or not, but the Flyers might have to eat some salary to make it work.