Flyers Defenseman Finally Healthy, Will Make Season Debut

The Philadelphia Flyers will activate defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen from injured reserve on Tuesday. Head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed he will make his season debut on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Ristolainen has been out since March, after undergoing surgery on his right tricep late in the month. It was the same tricep he had surgically repaired the season prior.

Now, the Flyers defenseman has had a lengthy recovery and is set make his return to the league. The Finnish blueliner has been skating with the Flyers since the beginning of December, going from just skating, practicing without contact, to ramping up the contact in recent days.

Ristolainen had 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points last season in 63 games played. Throughout his career, he has 56 goals and 304 points in 776 games.

Head coach Rick Tocchet said earlier that the return of Ristolainen will feel like “a really good trade,” as he looks forward to the contributions the 6’4″ defenseman can bring to the defensive corps.

We know he can bring defensively, as the big, physical defenseman can help sure up the back end for the Flyers. Offensively, Tocchet is curious about the possibility of his “big shot” on the team’s struggling power play.

Ristolainen will return in his position as the team’s 3rd pair righ-side defenseman, playing alongside Nick Seeler.

While no official announcement has been made, it’s expected that Ty Murchison will be loaned back to Lehigh Valley to make room on the roster.

Ristolainen Officially Activated

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