Building a Case for Ristolainen: A Win-Win for the Habs

The Montreal Canadiens’ season has been a rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak, and Kaiden Guhle’s latest injury is yet another devastating blow for a team already battered by misfortune. Since their surprising playoff run in 2021, the Canadiens have been plagued by injuries, earning a reputation as one of the league’s most injury-riddled squads. Despite this, optimism surged during the off-season when the team acquired Patrik Laine, a move that promised to inject much-needed firepower into their lineup.

However, those hopes were dashed almost immediately. Laine suffered a major knee injury during a training camp exhibition game, sidelining the star forward for the first few months of the season. The Canadiens stumbled out of the gate, languishing near the bottom of the league standings by mid-November.

The tide seemed to turn when Laine finally returned to the ice, and the team’s fortunes improved further with the acquisition of Alexandre Carrier. The Canadiens clawed their way back into the playoff conversation, showing signs of resilience and determination. But just as the momentum began to build, disaster struck again: Kaiden Guhle, a key piece of their defensive core, went down with an injury, leaving the team reeling once more.

“Kaiden Guhle was cut, a very nasty cut. He was bleeding a lot. Guhle’s foot was blue and he was screaming in pain. He had a tourniquet on his thigh to stop the bleeding. There was blood all over the stretcher…Done for the year.” – Tony Marinaro on @thesickpodcasts.bsky.social

— /r/Habs (@habsonreddit.bsky.social) 2025-01-30T15:37:47.685Z

Now, general manager Kent Hughes finds himself at a crossroads. Initially, the plan was to wait until the 4-Nations break to decide whether to reward the team’s resurgence by staying the course or pivot to selling at the trade deadline. But without Guhle, the likelihood of the Canadiens staying in the playoff race has dimmed significantly.

Hughes faces two clear options:

1. Patch things up internally: Rely on young defensemen like Jayden Struble, Logan Mailloux, Adam Engström, or even Gustav Lindström to fill the void. However, this approach carries significant risk, as it could lead to further struggles and potentially knock the team out of contention entirely.
2. Make a move for a veteran defenseman: Use the available cap space to acquire an experienced blueliner who can stabilize the defense and help keep the Canadiens in the playoff hunt.

If Hughes wants to keep his team in the mix, the time to act is now. Waiting could mean watching the season slip away. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is on to make a decision that could define the Canadiens’ trajectory for the rest of the year.

A Case For Ristolainen

One name that continues to surface in trade rumours as a prime target for the Canadiens is Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. The 30-year-old Finnish veteran, a right-shot defenseman, could seamlessly slot into Montreal’s lineup, providing much-needed stability and helping balance the team’s right-to-left shot ratio on the blue line—a glaring need that has become even more pressing with Guhle’s absence.

Unpopular take:Kaiden Guhle's injury would be the perfect timing for Kent Hughes and the #Habs to make a push for Rasmus Ristolainen from the Flyers, and before the team slides in the standings.#GoHabsGo

— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-01-30T15:10:38.626Z

Here is how Ristolainen statistically compares to the current defensemen in Montreal:

The Ask: Reports suggest the Flyers are seeking a young player with NHL experience or a higher-upside prospect in return. Given Philadelphia’s historical interest in former Canadiens players and prospects—and considering Daniel Brière’s ties to Quebec—a player like Joshua Roy could be an enticing piece for the Flyers. Another advantage for Montreal is that, unlike many playoff-bound teams, the Canadiens wouldn’t necessarily need the Flyers to retain salary, making a potential deal more straightforward.

The impact of adding a right-shot defenseman was evident when Alexandre Carrier joined the team, eliminating the need to play some defensemen on their off side. Acquiring Ristolainen would further solidify the blue line, allowing Mike Matheson to shift back to his natural left side—a win-win scenario for the Canadiens. In Guhle’s absence, the defensive corps could look something like this:

Matheson – Carrier

Hutson – Ristolainen

Xhekaj – Savard

Struble

Such a move would not only bolster the team’s chances of staying in the playoff race but also reward the players for their hard-fought resurgence in December and January. It would signal to the locker room that management believes in this group and is willing to make the necessary moves to support their playoff push.

Beyond this season, acquiring Ristolainen, who will be a teammate of Laine and Armia at the upcoming 4-Nations Face Off, would provide the Canadiens with added flexibility heading into the offseason. With a deeper defensive pool, the team could explore trading a defenseman to address other areas of need.

Additionally, bringing in a veteran like Ristolainen, who has two years remaining on his contract, would buy valuable time for prospects like Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher to continue their development without being rushed into top-four roles before they’re ready.

In short, Ristolainen isn’t just a short-term fix—he’s a strategic addition that could help the Canadiens stay competitive now while setting the stage for a smoother transition as their young defensive prospects mature.