Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers Miss Rasmus Ristolainen More Than Everybody Thinks
Imagine reading this headline in the summer during training camp. It’s no secret that the Philadelphia Flyers have struggled since mid-February.
A lot of the chatter, deservedly, points to the Flyers trading Sean Walker as the reason for their defensive decline, but that only tells half the story.
The other half of the story is Rasmus Ristolainen, who has missed groups of games on either half of the 2023-24 season.
The proof is in the pudding; the Flyers are 17-9-5 with Ristolainen in the lineup this season. Without Ristolainen in the lineup, the Flyers are a dreadful 19-21-6.
The 29-year-old is no longer the 40-point powerhouse he was early in his career with the Buffalo Sabres, however, Ristolainen, with the help of the Flyers coaching staff, has placed a renewed emphasis on his defensive game. Both he and the team have reaped the rewards of that, as shown by the Flyers’ record with Ristolainen in the lineup.
Given the contract, I can see why #LetsGoFlyers fans wanted Ristolainen to be traded. You're seeing two straight seasons of excellent results under Torts, though. Definitely a guy I'd want to keep around for a younger team. pic.twitter.com/guCHFljTmm
— Jon Bailey (@ByJonBailey) January 29, 2024
In fact, Ristolainen has scored just one goal, three assists, and four points in 31 games this season. That’s far from adequate offensive production, but that’s not his game anymore.
Ristolainen has been on injured reserve with an upper-body injury since Feb. 26 after suffering said injury against Seattle on Feb. 10. Since Ristolainen went out, the Flyers are 8-11-5 and have allowed the fifth-most goals in the NHL, with 90.
Only Anaheim, San Jose, Arizona, and Pittsburgh allowed more goals since Feb. 10, and not by much.
Granted, Nick Seeler and Jamie Drysdale also went out for extended periods not long after Ristolainen was put on the shelf, but the numbers just go to show that their departures made things worse, rather than being fully responsible for the entire collapse that has occurred.
It’s unclear what the nature of Ristolainen’s injury is, but having missed 24 games and counting already, it doesn’t appear that the hulking Finn will be back this season with just five games remaining. The Flyers have been forced to turn to Erik Johnson in his wake, and Johnson just hasn’t played winning hockey for them this season.
For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit Philly Hockey Now and like our Facebook page.
Follow us on 𝕏:
@PhillyHockeyNow,
@ByJonBailey,
@BroadStBull
NHL Insider: Former Flyers Defenseman Could Be Next Ducks Captain
Flyers Hire Decorated Russian Coach as Scouting Consultant
Johnny and Matt Gaudreau Called ‘A Light for so Many People’ at Vigil
Bailey’s Daily: Marc Staal Retires from NHL; Top Ducks Prospect Injured
Unheralded Flyers Prospect Starts MHL Season on Fire
Bailey’s Daily: Jett Luchanko Hype; Top Draft Pick Leaves NHL Career Behind
Top Flyers Prospect Compared to Canadiens Star
Bailey’s Daily: Flyers Trade Possibility; Avalanche Prospect Compared to NHL Star
New Flyers Forward Impresses Ahead of Training Camp Battle
First Look: New Goalie Mask Design for Flyers’ Ivan Fedotov
Are Flyers Playoff Contenders? We Examine in Latest Podcast
Flyers Podcast: Lots of Positives, But Ryan Ellis Was Mistreated
Will Flyers get a shot at drafting Shane Wright? Here are the intriguing prospects
Tyson Foerster injured on scary hit into end boards
Lost me on this one. They won with him in the lineup as a third pair defender he’s become a high priced injury machine
The job still has to get done, doesn’t it? Johnson, Staal, and Attard haven’t come close to replicating his success this season.
He costs more than the 3 of them pit together so he should. Hey I wish he was jere now as the guys you just mentioned aren’t a better alternative but imo the facts are moving Walker upset this D corps substantially, he bought into and delivered for this team
Thank you for writing this article. I miss Rasmus so much! No one gives him the credit he deserves. I am big fan of his. I just hope that he will be able to play soon. The Flyers need playoff Risto!
The only reason the fans wanted him traded is solely because of the numbers on his contract. When the defensive injuries were compounded by three and Walker was traded for the first rounder, four of their six defensemen were out. The remaining two were forced to play 26+ minutes and subsequently hit the wall. Obtaining Erik “human pylon” Johnson was the first major mistake of DB’s jurisdiction. In retrospect, playing Attard and Ginning were better than Staal, Johnson and Zamula.
Drysdale has shown me nothing.