Islanders in Crisis: Critical Trade Decisions Loom After 5th Loss in 7 Games – NHL Trade Buzz

Philadelphia Flyers

Rasmus Ristolainen is focused on his game, even as rumors swirl about a possible trade before the deadline. The 30-year-old defenseman knows this is just part of being in the NHL.

“I can’t control what happens,” Ristolainen said after practice. “I just come in every day and work hard.”

He has two seasons left on his five-year, $25.5 million contract. Given his current performance—19 points, including four goals and 15 assists, along with an average of over 20 minutes of ice time in 59 games—he’s valuable to the team. The Flyers, currently standing at 27-26-8, are in a tight race for the playoffs, only four points behind the Red Wings and Rangers for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Despite the trade chatter, Ristolainen still believes in his team. “I feel we’re very tight as a group,” he said. “Since the break, we’ve played some solid hockey and picked up wins. If we keep taking it day by day, we can make a push for the playoffs this season.”

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