Photo Credit: NHL.com
“He’s our most improved player,” John Tortorella said of Rasmus Ristolainen last season.
That was then, and this is now. Ristolainen has not suited up for one game for the Flyers this season. He’s sustained a “Body injury” in the pre-season, and the hope was he was getting closer for a return.
That time is now, as Ristolainen will draw in the lineup and make his season debut tonight against the New York Islanders. The reeling Flyers have suddenly lost two straight, along with Ristolainen, Morgan Frost will also draw into the lineup.
It’s understandable why some fans panicked, as long-term injuries have not been kind for for the Flyers in the years past. They have seen players that were day to day for about a month, move to the IR (Injured Reserve), and then be out for the rest of the season.
Ristolainen, 28-years-old, is a Right-Handed Defenseman that can be physical and pot a goal as the Flyers found out right before the break. He entered the Christmas break on a three game point streak (1g,3a) last season, and Ristolainen had seven points in his last 10 games played at that point (2g,5a).
Getting to know a little more about Ristolainen. He was in the military this summer for eight weeks, John Tortorella told us at Training Camp. Tortorella said that he couldn’t get the proper training that he would have liked this summer, 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 on the 2023-24 season
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. He blasted Filip Forsberg with a clean hit last season, to which Forsberg did not return back to the game, “I thought it was a clean hit, and an unfortunate result.”
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 19:01 for the orange and black last season, and he could be a top pairing/middle pairing defenseman this coming season. He has been paired with Cam York as the top pairing early in camp. For his efforts, Ristolainen also tallied three goals, and chipped in 17 assists in 74 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.
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. 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. Hopefully, he builds off his success from last season, and plays well tonight.
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