Rasmus Ristolainen’s Road Gets Bumpier in Philly: Injuries, Trade Talks, and a Career at a Crossroads
Rasmus Ristolainen’s time in Philadelphia has been something of a rollercoaster - flashes of the player he once was, glimpses of the player he could still be, and long stretches where he simply hasn’t been on the ice. After rebuilding parts of his game under former Flyers assistant Brad Shaw, the Finnish defenseman looked like he might be turning a corner. But once again, injuries have stepped in to write a frustrating chapter.
A Familiar and Frustrating Pattern
Let’s start with the hard truth: Ristolainen has missed 104 of a possible 211 games over the last three seasons. That number’s only going up, as he’s been ruled out of the Flyers’ upcoming three-game road trip due to an upper-body injury. The team hasn’t offered specifics, but considering he just returned from a torn triceps that sidelined him for nine months, it’s fair to wonder if this latest setback is connected.
His injury history reads like a list no player wants to be on. Surgery for a ruptured triceps tendon in March 2025.
A 2023-24 season that saw him miss the first 20 games, then 30 of the final 31 with separate lower and upper-body issues. Since arriving in Philly from Buffalo back in July 2021, he’s been placed on injured reserve five times.
That’s not just bad luck - that’s a trend.
And it’s not just about games missed. After returning this season, Ristolainen managed just 13 appearances before going back on the shelf.
With the Flyers facing a condensed schedule ahead of the Olympic break, there’s real concern that he may have rushed his return in hopes of playing his way into form for Team Finland. If that’s the case, it’s a gamble that hasn’t paid off.
The Trade Deadline Dilemma
On the trade front, the Flyers are in a bit of a bind. General manager Danny Briere hasn’t publicly dangled Ristolainen as trade bait, but let’s be honest - when a team finds early success without one of its highest-paid defensemen, the writing’s on the wall.
Last season, Philly reportedly struggled to generate league-wide interest in Ristolainen, and that was before his latest round of injuries. Now? It’s hard to imagine any team giving up a meaningful asset for a player who’s struggled to stay healthy and hasn’t been particularly effective when he has played.
The trade deadline isn’t until March 6, but with the Winter Olympics creating a shorter window for movement, time isn’t exactly on Philly’s side. Even if Ristolainen gets healthy, there’s no guarantee he’ll have enough runway to show teams he’s ready to contribute.
His contract - two more years at a $5.1 million cap hit - isn’t as daunting as it once was, but it’s still a tough sell unless the Flyers retain salary or sweeten the pot. At 31, there should be more hockey left in him.
The problem is, he’s got to be on the ice to prove it. If a trade doesn’t materialize and the Flyers need cap space this summer, a buyout could enter the conversation.
The On-Ice Reality
When Ristolainen has played this season, the results haven’t been encouraging. In 13 games, he posted just three assists. That’s not entirely surprising - he hasn’t been a major offensive contributor since his days quarterbacking the power play in Buffalo - but the defensive metrics are where the real concern lies.
Per MoneyPuck, his expected goals share sits at just 45 percent, his lowest since his final season with the Sabres. And the actual goals share with him on the ice at even strength?
A career-worst 30 percent. You don’t need to dive deep into analytics to see the impact - the eye test backs it up.
He’s been out of sync, a step behind, and struggling to impose his physical style the way he used to.
It’s hard not to connect the dots between his dip in performance and the injuries. Playing through pain or coming back too soon rarely leads to success, especially for a defenseman whose game is built on size, strength, and mobility. And right now, Ristolainen doesn’t look like the player who once seemed like a cornerstone of the Flyers’ blue line rebuild.
What Comes Next?
The Flyers are in a tricky spot. They’ve got a player with size, experience, and a history of playing big minutes - but also a player whose availability and effectiveness are both in question. Ristolainen’s story in Philly started with promise, and at times, it looked like he might turn into one of the league’s better reclamation projects.
But the last year has been a grind. The injuries haven’t stopped, and the production has dipped.
Whether it’s a trade, a buyout, or a bounce-back, something’s got to give. Because right now, Ristolainen isn’t just fighting to stay in the Flyers’ plans - he’s fighting to stay in the NHL conversation.