Photo Credit: Our very own Conor Doherty
Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher was left with a gaping hole on the blue line when Matt Niskanen officially announced his retirement one day before the NHL Draft was set to commence last year. Niskanen was a very reliable Right-Handed Defenseman that was on the top pairing, while being paired with a work-horse in Ivan Provorov.
Fletcher approached this offseason trying to replace Niskanen, and he accomplished that with obtaining Ryan Ellis and adding Rasmus Ristolainen to the mix. The Flyers were in a free fall, and beaten on a regular basis. Gone are those days as Ristolainen will not sit back and allow his fellow teammates to get pummeled and cheaply barreled into.
Ristolainen would offer the Flyers a guarantee next season. Ristolainen eats minutes, and he would pair more effectively with Travis Sanheim, Ristolainen is expected to see a reduced role with the orange and black, “My first impression was the outstanding training facilities,” Ristolainen said. “Gym is great. Everything is nice. All the guys have been good and same with the staff. I’ve really been enjoying my first three weeks.”
“Obviously, try to make the other team hate me and not want to play against me. I’ve had some good battles against my new teammates so it’s a big part of my game. I can’t wait to get going.” – Rasmus Ristolainen
The 26-year-old, Ristolainen, is a Right-Handed Defenseman that can be physical and pot a goal as the Flyers found out earlier this year. He can be seen as an underperforming defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres, but it is the Sabres, a team that was stockpiled with rich prospects and talent. Ristolainen is blessed with toughness, and possesses one heavy shot, and that could become a key on the power play for the Flyers.
This former Sabres defenseman plays a really sound two-way game. He is a strong and well-balanced skater, and Ristolainen plays with a physical component to his game and has become more disciplined. Ristolainen stands at 6’4, weighs 218 pounds and can clear the porch in a big way. Carter Hart would see just about every shot with him on the ice, as he could be seen dragging players from the front of the net.
“It felt great and that I was wanted here. Can’t wait to bring my game to help the team and to see how far we will go with this good group of guys.” – Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen, plays with an edge and he possesses solid puck moving skills as he likes to be involved with the play. He logged an average ice time of 22:17 for the Sabres this past season, and he registered four goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 49 games played. Ristolainen was recovering from Covid-19 (Which took a heavy toll on him physically), and he still had a solid season.
Fletcher has been on record saying, “I want us to be a tough team to play against,” well adding Ristolainen to the fold provides exactly that. Ristolainen should be given every shot, as he comes from an underperforming Sabres team. His analytics say he is bad, but he played for a Sabres team that has been awful for the past few seasons, and that’s being generous to say that.
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Ristolainen is signed through 2021-22 with a $5.4 million cap hit. He provides something for the Flyers and this defense as it stands right now is far better than it was last year:
Provorov, Ellis
Sanheim, Ristolainen
Morin/York, Braun
In the end the Flyers got a bit meaner, and one Defenseman that has a howlitzer of a shot. Whatever the case may be for Ristolainen and the Flyers, one thing appears to be clear, he is ready to go. Ristolainen looks forward playing with his new teammates, and Ryan Ellis and Keith Yandle in particular, “They know what it takes to win and they’re great guys,” Ristolainen said. “Lots of good stories and good to be around.”
