Ristolainen notched an assist, four hits and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Panthers.
Ristolainen ended a six-game point drought with the helper. The 30-year-old defenseman has played firmly in a top-four role over the last eight games, a span that includes all three of his points through 15 outings this season. He's added 12 shots on net, 31 hits, 22 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating. Ristolainen had all of four points over 31 contests in 2023-24, so he looks to be poised for a bounce-back campaign by virtue of being healthy in 2024-25, though he is four years removed from his last 30-point season.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Records two points Saturday
Rotowire
Ristolainen generated one goal, one assist, five hits and two blocked shots in a 7-5 win over the Wild on Saturday.
Entering Saturday's matchup, Ristolainen didn't have a point in seven outings. He probably won't be much of an offensive threat this year, but he will get plenty of shots, hits and blocks.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Skating prior to camp
Rotowire
Ristolainen (triceps) was seen skating with his teammates Sept. 3 and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, Jon Bailey of Philly Hockey Now reports.
Ristolainen sustained the injury in February but didn't undergo surgery until April. While it was described as a ruptured triceps tendon, the procedure was never expected to keep Ristolainen out at the start of the preseason. He should be in the mix for a bottom-four role in 2024-25, though he's unlikely to provide much offense since he's reached the 20-point mark in just one of his three years with the Flyers.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Underwent surgery
Rotowire
Ristolainen has undergone surgery for a ruptured triceps tendon, the team announced Thursday. He is expected to be fine for the start of training camp in September.
Ristolainen didn't play past Feb. 10 due to the injury. He finished the campaign with a goal, four points, 56 hits and 45 blocks in 31 appearances. Although Ristolainen comes with a $5.1 million cap hit through 2026-27, he might start 2024-25 on the third pairing after averaging just 16:41 of ice time this season.
Ristolainen (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
Ristolainen, who hasn't played since Feb. 10, still doesn't have an exact timetable in place for his return to the lineup. In 31 games this season, he has registered one goal, three assists, 46 shots on net, 45 blocked shots and 56 hits.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Set to miss at least 2-3 weeks
Rotowire
Ristolainen (upper body) will undergo a procedure in 2-3 weeks and will be re-evaluated at that point, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports.
Ristolainen is currently stuck in a 15-game goal drought during which he's managed just one assist and 23 shots. As such, the majority of fantasy players are unlikely to be impacted by his absence. With Ristolainen unavailable, Marc Staal and Egor Zamula should see upticks in ice time.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Out Monday
Rotowire
Ristolainen (upper body) is out Monday against Arizona and is not expected to play Thursday against Toronto.
Ristolainen missed Thursday's tilt against Winnipeg with an illness but returned to log 15:26 of ice time Saturday against the Kraken. Now it appears he'll miss at least two games with an upper-body issue, but the team believes he could return Saturday against the Devils. Marc Staal will get back in the lineup Monday.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Returning Saturday
Rotowire
Ristolainen (illness) will return to the lineup versus Seattle on Saturday, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Ristolainen sat out Thursday's tilt versus Winnipeg. He will likely replace Marc Staal on the blue line. Ristolainen has a goal, three assists, 47 hits and 44 blocked shots in 30 games this season.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Under the weather
Rotowire
Ristolainen (illness) won't play Thursday versus the Jets, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Ristolainen was a surprise absence for warmups, and this explains why. Marc Staal will draw into the lineup against Winnipeg, while Ristolainen will try to be ready to suit up Saturday versus the Kraken.
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Gets first goal of campaign
Rotowire
Ristolainen scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Flames.
Ristolainen opened the scoring at 9:44 of the first period. The 29-year-old blueliner has earned all three of his points this season in December after missing the first six weeks of the campaign with a lower-body injury. He's far from a big scoring threat -- Ristolainen's game is physicality in a bottom-four role. He's added 28 hits, 28 blocked shots, 23 shots on net and a minus-4 rating through 16 appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Nets first point of season
Rotowire
Ristolainen snagged an assist during Monday's 2-1 overtime win against the Penguins.
A lower-body injury has limited Ristolainen to just five games this season. His ice time thus far has been drastically cut down to 15:42 from last year's average of 19:01. In five appearances, the defenseman has one assist, four PIM, nine hits, seven blocks and a plus-1 rating.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Removed from LTIR
Rotowire
Ristolainen (lower body) was activated from long-term injured reserve Saturday, per the NHL media site.
Ristolainen appears to be ready to make his season debut Saturday against the Islanders. He compiled 20 points, 86 shots on goal, 142 blocked shots and 162 hits in 74 games during the 2022-23 campaign.
Ristolainen (lower body) ditched the non-contact jersey for Tuesday's practice session, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
With Ristolainen cleared for contact, he could be close to making his return, perhaps even in Wednesday's matchup with the Islanders. Considering the defenseman has yet to play this season, his minutes may be limited in his first couple of outings. Last year, the Finn recorded the lowest minutes of his NHL career, averaging just 19:01 of ice time and less than a minute per game with the man advantage.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Practicing in non-contact jersey
Rotowire
Ristolainen (undisclosed) is still practicing in a non-contact jersey Friday, according to Bill Meltzer of NHL.com.
Ristolainen has yet to play this season as he suffered an injury in training camp. Ristolainen had three goals, 17 assists, 162 hits and 142 blocked shots in 74 games last season.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Shifts to LTIR
Rotowire
Ristolainen (undisclosed) was moved to the long-term injured reserve Friday, per CapFriendly.
Ristolainen has yet to play this season and his timeline to return remains unclear. His movement to the long-term injured reserve is a paper transaction as he'll still be eligible to return whenever he's healthy.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Suffers setback
Rotowire
Coach John Tortorella told Kevin Kurz of The Athletic on Tuesday that Ristolainen (undisclosed) suffered a setback in his recovery.
Ristolainen doesn't have a timetable in place for his return to the lineup. He hasn't played yet during the 2023-24 campaign because of an injury he sustained during the preseason.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Officially ruled out
Rotowire
Ristolainen (undisclosed) will not be available against Columbus on Thursday, Charlie O'Connor of PHLY Sports reports.
Ristolainen will remain on injured reserve for at least one more contest after being originally considered a game-time decision to face the Blue Jackets. With Risto on the shelf, Travis Sanheim should see increased minutes Thursay, including opportunities with the man advantage.
... See More... See Less
Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen: Could play in season opener
Rotowire
Ristolainen (undisclosed) is currently on injured reserve, but he could still play in Thursday's season opener versus Columbus, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Ristolainen was on the ice for practice Tuesday, indicating there's still a decent chance he'll be activated off IR in advance of Thursday's matchup with the Blue Jackets. Ristolainen collected 20 points through 74 contests last campaign.
