In the Bronze Medal clash at the 2026 Milan Olympics, Team Finland secured a commanding 6-1 victory over Team Slovakia. Despite missing star winger Mikko Rantanen due to injury, the Finns lived up to their favorite status, with standout performances from players like the Philadelphia Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen.
Ristolainen made his mark with a secondary assist on one of Finland's empty-net goals and finished with a plus-2 rating. This brought his Olympic tally to three assists and tied him for a games-leading plus-9 rating alongside fellow Finn Niko Mikkola and Canada's Devon Toews. Depending on the outcome of the Gold Medal game, Ristolainen and Mikkola could end up with the top plus-minus rating of the tournament.
Heading into the Olympics, there was buzz about Ristolainen using the event to enhance his trade value ahead of the March deadline. He delivered on that promise. The Finnish coaching staff relied heavily on him, as he logged the third-most minutes among Finnish players across six games, all while maintaining discipline with only one penalty.
Ristolainen missed the Four Nations tournament due to injury, which was initially seen as a setback. However, he more than compensated with his performance in Milan, showcasing his skills in a high-stakes environment reminiscent of the NHL playoffs.
Known for his size and being a right-shot defender, Ristolainen is the kind of player teams covet for playoff runs. With one year left on his $5.1-million AAV contract, acquiring him at the trade deadline could provide a team with two potential Cup runs.
The Flyers are open to offers for Ristolainen, and after this Olympic showcase, GM Danny Briere might find his phone ringing off the hook.