Before the 2025 free agency begins, the Ottawa Senators are in a tight position on defense. Nick Jensen recently had off-season surgery for a lower-body injury.
Jensen's surgery could put concern around the defense with the Senators in need a right handed defenseman if Jensen has more injury concerns moving forward. One defenseman on the Senators who could face more pressure to raise his game, but can be eager to is Nikolas Matinpalo for next season.
Even with that said, the Senators can still target a right handed defenseman if they continue to worry about Jensen this Summer by signing or trading for one. While there has been links already to Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers for the Senators, there's one defenseman who might be available this Summer by trade that the Senators must avoid.
Senators shouldn't consider Flyers' Ristolainen
Rasmus Ristolainen had huge potential early into his career with the Buffalo Sabres when he recorded four consecutive 40-point seasons on bad Buffalo teams. However, since the 2020-21 season, Ristolainen's play has taken a major drop.
Ristolainen has been a member of the Philadelphia Flyers for the past four seasons, but his $5.1 million contract per yer until 2027 is arguably the worst contract on the Flyers. Despite the inconsistencies for the 30-year-old, reports that the Senators could try and work a trade out for Ristolainen began under a week ago. This is a potential trade target the Senators shouldn't even consider making.
Taking on a contract over $5.1 million for the next two years for a liability on the Flyers is a huge risk. Since joining the Flyers in 2021, Ristolainen has yet to record over 20 points in a season. While also being in Philadelphia, Ristolainen has only had one season of playing in over 70 games in a season, so injury concerns are there for Ristolainen as it is for Jensen at the moment.
If the Senators were to trade for Ristolainen, it would put the Senators in a position where they would have three defensemen on the roster all be free agents in the same year. Artem Zub and Nikolas Matinpalo both have their contracts run out in 2027 just like Ristolainen.
The Flyers would be eager to trade Ristolainen this Summer with the team currently rebuilding and potentially wanting to dump the contract. Ristolainen could have value of a middle round draft pick or two, but it wouldn't be worth it for a defensive liability and a player who hasn't produced much offense for the past four seasons for Ottawa.
Ristolainen's defensive numbers in hits and blocked shots have dropped during recently in Philadelphia per season. Ristolainen's 52 giveaways in the 2024-25 season was the second highest in his career for a single season.
With not much offensive production and defense lacking, Ristolainen shouldn't be targeted by the Senators despite the surgery for Jensen. The Senators still will have to seek a right handed defenseman with concern around Jensen, but Ristolainen shouldn't be a target.