The Boston Bruins have reportedly checked in on a star defenseman ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
Boston is holding onto a playoff spot, and the Bruins could look to bolster their roster ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. One area of need for Boston is a right-shot defenseman, and the team has reportedly shown interest in an intriguing name.
NHL insider Anthony DiMarco of DailyFaceoff reported on Monday that the Bruins are one of several teams that have checked in on the availability of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
“I’ve heard five or six teams have checked in on Ristolainen over the last 14 days or so, and word is starting to circulate that interest is on the upswing,” DiMarco wrote in an article published on Monday. …
“Among the teams that have checked in on Ristolainen are the Bruins and Edmonton Oilers, though neither has stepped up as a “serious” landing spot to this point, according to sources.
Speaking with a source close to the situation in Boston, I got the sense that Ristolainen wasn’t someone the Bruins are especially high on, though they are “checking in on everyone” at this stage. Given that they were in on Rasmus Andersson before his eventual trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, it makes sense that the Bruins would at least do their due diligence on Ristolainen as a right-shot defenseman.”
Ristolainen is in the fourth year of his five-year, $25.5 million deal, so he’d be part of the Bruins’ roster for two playoff runs. However, as DiMarco notes, Boston’s interest in Ristolainen isn’t as high as that of other teams.
Ristolainen has recorded one goal and five assists for six points in 19 games this season, as he dealt with injuries to begin the year.
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