Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
“He’s our most improved player,” John Tortorella said of Rasmus Ristolainen last season before his injury.
That was then, and this is now. Ristolainen has played very well for the orange and black this season. He has refined his game, as he doesn’t look to crush his opponents in the boards on every play. Ristolainen has gotten rid of that first hit mentality, rather he suffocates his opponents with excellent gap.control and by taking the body.
“I wish I had him when I was 18 coming in the league,” Ristolainen said of John Tortorella at training camp. “I feel like I’ve taken big steps under him.” Tortorella is the first coach of eight to untap his potential, and really show he is a serviceable three or four Defensemen in the NHL. Everyone has wondered what a playoff Ristolainen would look like, and with his he is playing that could very well happen this season.
“I wish I had him when I was 18 coming in the league. I feel like I’ve taken big steps under him.” –Rasmus Ristolainen says of John Tortorella
Ristolainen, 30-years-old, is a Right-Handed Defenseman that can be physical and block big shots as the Flyers found out right before the Thanksgiving break. Ristolainen tied his career high in blocked shots against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night with eight.
Getting to know a little more about Ristolainen. He was in the military this summer for eight weeks a few Summers ago, John Tortorella told us at Training Camp. Tortorella said that he couldn’t get the proper training that he would have liked in the Summer of 2023, as he had to enter the military. While doing some research, it is required by the country of Finland for all males to participate in the military up until age 29 for at least eight weeks.
“We are going to work our ass off. Anything can happen in this league.” – Rasmus Ristolainen said this past training camp
This Flyers Defenceman has become reliable, and really played a really sound two-way game last season. He is a strong and well-balanced skater, and Ristolainen plays with a physical component to his game. Ristolainen stands at 6’4, weighs 218 pounds, and can clear the porch in a big way.
Ristolainen, plays with an edge and he possesses solid puck moving skills as he likes to be involved with the play. John Tortorella is on record saying, “He’s just played well defensively.”
Risto logged an average ice time of 16:41 for the orange and black last season, and he has been a reliable middle pairing defenseman this season. He has averaged 20:01 of ice time in the 2024-25 season. In addition, Ristolainen has also tallied one goal, and chipped in five assists in 23 games played. He was just a confident player, and one can sense it, “I think my game has been getting better every game. I like where my game is at now,” Ristolainen said.
“When I first got here he was brutal, he was awful, he didn’t move his legs. When he moves his legs. He’s a really good player,” Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella said of Ristolainen in his pre-game presser against the Predators this past Wednesday.
He’s actually a good player finally, and has battled well. Risto was in the right position to block a shot, and he used his stick well to break up a play believe it or not. His quick zone exits were timely, and it fueled the Flyers offensively against the Nashville Predators. Even so much so, he has fueled the Flyers to a 6-2-2 record in their last ten games played.
All in all, it’s good to finally see Ristolainen playing like the player he was supposed to play like when Chuck Fletcher obtained him from Buffalo. He is building off his success from last season before his injury,, and really has played well for the most part.
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