Could Blues goalie Jordan Binnington move on to a Cup contender? Are the Flyers shopping defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD BINNINGTON MOVE ON FROM THE BLUES?
RG.ORG: James Murphy asked a former St. Louis Blues source if Jordan Binnington might eventually ask to be moved. The source said he wouldn’t be surprised if the 29-year-old goaltender requested a trade.
St. Louis Blue goaltender Jordan Binnington (NHL Images)
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong could become a seller if his retooling club finds itself in another losing skid by the upcoming American Thanksgiving weekend.
Murphy suggested the Carolina Hurricanes would be interested in Binnington if he became available. Veteran starter Frederik Andersen is sidelined again and Pyotr Kochetkov is also banged up. Murphy’s source believes the Hurricanes wouldn’t be the only club interested in the Blues goalie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy noted Binnington has two years remaining on his six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. He also carries an 18-team no-trade list. Both factors would make Binnington difficult to move if he requested a trade. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t be traded but it seems unlikely at this stage.
It would be big news if the Blues were entertaining offers for their starting goalie. Binnington hasn’t given any indication that he wants out of St. Louis and Armstrong’s dropped no hints that he’s available.
ARE THE FLYERS SHOPPING RISTOLAINEN?
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently singling out the improved play this season Rasmus Ristolainen, speculating the pundit might be “planting a seed for a potential Flyers trade down the road.”
Bailey also cited Philadelphia sportswriter Anthony SanFilippo reporting that Ristolainen is gathering trade interest around the league. However, he claims the Flyers haven’t received a suitable offer yet for the 30-year-old defenseman.
SanFilippo believes Ristolainen could be moved between the start of the New Year and June. However, the Flyers would have to retain part of the blueliner’s salary or risk pushing trade talks into the offseason. He carries an AAV of $5.1 million through 2026-27.
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz also reports the Flyers are fielding calls about Ristolainen. However, they’re not interested in moving him just to clear cap space and they don’t have a price tag attached to him.
Kurz speculates that Ristolainen’s value could rise the closer it gets to the March 7 trade deadline. However, the return could depend on how much salary the Flyers are willing to retain.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bailey points out the Flyers have already used their three salary retention slots for this season on Tony DeAngelo, Kevin Hayes, and Cam Atkinson. DeAngelo comes off the books after this season but Hayes and Atkinson each have a year remaining.