The Toronto Maple Leafs are among the elite teams in the NHL and are expected to strengthen their roster before the playoffs. Using the PuckGM tool from the website PuckPedia, a user suggested a trade that would bring Rasmus Ristolainen from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Maple Leafs. In this proposed trade: **Maple Leafs Receive:** – Rasmus Ristolainen
David Kampf – 2027 second-round pick This trade makes sense for both teams, with Toronto enhancing its blue line and Philadelphia gaining a draft pick along with a veteran forward. Ristolainen is in his third year of a five-year, $25.5 million contract. He would contribute offensive support to the Maple Leafs’ defense and could improve their struggling power play. So far this season, he has scored 1 goal and notched 2 assists for a total of 3 points in 17 games with the Flyers.
In exchange, the Maple Leafs would give up a significant second-round pick, along with David Kampf, who is in the second year of a four-year, $9.6 million contract. Kampf plays as a fourth-line center and is known for his strong penalty-killing and defensive abilities.
Injury Concerns for Maple Leafs Captain
Toronto is facing a series of injuries, with captain Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, and Calle Jarnkrok all sidelined. Matthews is the most notable player out, and the team announced he would not return by November 16. There had been hopes he might be back for the game on November 12. However, according to Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube, there has been no setback in his recovery. “There are no setbacks; we’re just doing what we can,” Berube stated on November 15. “With two games over a long stretch, we’re allowing him to recover. Our focus is to get him to 100 percent so he can move forward, and we can regain momentum as well. The timing helps since we have a couple of games here in the next few days.” In the games he has played this season, Matthews has scored 5 goals and made 6 assists, totaling 11 points in 13 games. The timeline for his return to the lineup remains uncertain. “Every injury is different,” Berube noted. “Of course, I’d like him back, but it is what it is.” The Maple Leafs will be back on the ice on November 16, facing the Edmonton Oilers at home.
Ristolainen’s name has emerged in trade discussions, even though he has two years left on his contract after this season. The Flyers received inquiries about Ristolainen last season but ultimately chose not to trade him. However, Anthony Di Marco of DailyFaceoff.com reports that the Maple Leafs were one of the teams showing interest. “I heard that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks were potential contenders last season. However, an injury to Ristolainen in February kept him out for the rest of the season, effectively ending any chance of a bidding war for the Finnish defenseman,” Di Marco stated. Now that Ristolainen is back to full health, he is likely to be a topic of trade discussions again as the deadline approaches. The defenseman was drafted eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Draft.
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