PROPOSED TRADE BETWEEN OILERS AND FLYERS INCLUDES FORMER 1ST ROUND PICK.

I have a very interesting proposed trade to bring to you this afternoon, although I’m not entirely sure that the potential risks involved won’t prevent this one from ever coming to fruition.

This one stems from comments made by long time Edmonton Oilers employee Bob Stauffer, who on Saturday indicated that the Oilers would be in the market for a defenseman with Evander Kane undergoing surgery that will without a doubt land him on long term injured reserve to start the season.

Stauffer indicated specifically that the Oilers would be in the market for a right shot defenseman with some term left on his contract.

Jonathan Bailey of Philly Hockey Now believes that would make the Flyers an ideal fit for a trade with the Oilers, pointing to often maligned defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen as a potential fit on the Edmonton blue line.

From Philly Hockey Now:

The one name that fits Stauffer’s criteria is Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who has three years remaining on his contract at a $5.1 million cap hit.

That would of course make a great deal of sense when it comes to the dollars involved, with Evander Kane having a near identical cap hit to that of Ristolainen with Kane coming it at $5.125 million per season when compared to just $5.1 million per season on Ristolainen’s current deal.

Not only would the money work from the Oilers perspective, but it would also allow the Flyers (who are currently just over the NHL’s salary cap) to become cap compliant.

Ristolainen also has 2 more seasons remaining beyond this upcoming season, which would fit the other half of Stauffer’s criteria.

The issue of course is that Ristolainen is coming off of a major injury of his own and has struggled to establish himself as a true top pairing defenseman since being drafted in the first round (8th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

That injury limited Ristolainen to just 31 games last season, games in which he scored 1 goal and added 3 assists for a total of 4 points, finishing the campaign with a plus minus rating of -6 on an admittedly middle of the pack Flyers team.

Whether a team in win-now mode like the Oilers would be willing to take a large scale gamble on Ristolainen likely depends on how much the Oilers scouting staff values the player. I personally think the risk is too high for Edmonton to make this trade, but the Oilers may feel differently.

Do you see a fit here? What should the Oilers have to give up to acquire Ristolainen? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.