At the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs acquired center Scott Laughton but also pursued defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, making a strong offer that was ultimately rejected by the Flyers. Ristolainen, who had a bounce-back season with 19 points in 63 games, was later shut down due to an upper-body injury and underwent triceps surgery, sidelining him for training camp and the start of the season. While Toronto shifted focus to acquiring defenseman Brandon Carlo, interest in Ristolainen may resurface this offseason as teams assess his recovery and potential availability.
