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Rasmus Ristolainen

Position	Right Defense	Current Team	Philadelphia Flyers
Shoots	Right	Current Contract	5 years ($5.1M CapHit)
Height	6'4"	Expires	2026-27
Weight (lbs)	208	Expiry Age (Jun 30)	32
Age (DOB)	31 (Oct 27, 1994)	Expiry Status	UFA
Drafted	2013, Round 1, Overall 8 (BUF)

Date	Team	Transaction
Jan 17, 2026	Philadelphia Flyers	Placed on IR
Dec 16, 2025	Philadelphia Flyers	Activated from IR
Oct 6, 2025	Philadelphia Flyers	Placed on IR
Mar 10, 2022	Philadelphia Flyers	Signed 5 years @ $5.100M AAV starting in 2022-23
Oct 11, 2016	Buffalo Sabres	Signed 6 years @ $5.400M AAV starting in 2016-17
Jul 12, 2013	Buffalo Sabres	Signed to an entry level contract.

Status History Coming Soon

2025-26 Player Card

URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/rasmus-ristolainen-8477499.png

2024-25 Player Card

URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/rasmus-ristolainen-8477499.png

2023-24 Player Card

URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/rasmus-ristolainen-8477499.png

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance. In this case it shows the player performance over a 3 season span. Each square is separated into three separate sub-boxes with the two smaller boxes on top representing the past two seasons and the larger box on the bottom representing the current or most recent season. This allows the reader to guage how consistent a player has been, and if early in the season it can help identify whether a players performance may be impacted by small sample size and subject to regression or is consistent with recent past performance.

Notes and Definitions

The numbers represent percentiles so the higher the better.
Percentiles are determined by comparing Forwards to Forwards and Defensemen to Defensemen.
Bursts/mi are calculated from NHL Edge Data are are speed bursts above 20mpg per mile skated. The NHL doesn't adjust for ice time so the players that skate more will naturally have more bursts over 20, or at least more opportunity to have more. The NHL also does not provide ice time in the context of NHL Edge Statistics, however, it does provide distance skated. By adjusting for distance skated it will have a similar effect to adjusting for ice time but also adjust for situationional effect. For example, Players don't typically skate as much on the PK, mostly within the defensive zone, so don't get significant opportunity in that ice time to get speed bursts above 20mph. Adjusting with miles skates would account for this better than adjusting with ice time.
Sh%AE is Shooting Percentage above Expected (Sh% - xSh%) and is an indicator of how good a shooter is at converting chances into goals.
Relative statistics are On Ice - Off Ice statistics and can be an indicator of whether the player makes his teammates better or worse.
All data is 5v5 except Shooting Hardest and Average, Skating Top Speed and Bursts/mi which are all situations, ES Average which is even strength (NHL doesn't give a specific definition).

Data Sources

Salary data is from TheStanleyCap.com
Shooting and Skating (except Sh%AE) are from NHL Edge
Other statistics are from Puckalytics.com and derived from data from NHL.com

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5v5 Individual Stats

Season	Team(s)	GP	TOI	G/60	A/60	Pts/60	xG/60	GAE/60	Sh%	xSh%	Sh%AE	%SA Rush	%SA Reb.
2015-16	BUF	82	1459:58	0.16	0.58	0.74	0.17	-0.01	3.39	3.55	-0.16	1.28	0.00
2016-17	BUF	79	1495:07	0.16	0.48	0.64	0.18	-0.02	3.48	3.81	-0.33	2.67	4.00
2017-18	BUF	73	1345:47	0.13	0.49	0.62	0.15	-0.02	2.78	3.22	-0.44	0.68	2.72
2018-19	BUF	78	1413:28	0.13	0.76	0.89	0.22	-0.09	2.61	4.54	-1.93	0.00	1.26
2019-20	BUF	69	1176:16	0.15	0.56	0.71	0.14	0.02	3.45	3.08	0.37	0.87	2.61
2020-21	BUF	49	817:21	0.07	0.51	0.59	0.13	-0.06	1.85	3.35	-1.50	1.23	4.94
2021-22	PHI	66	1199:32	0.10	0.55	0.65	0.21	-0.11	2.60	5.45	-2.85	1.77	3.54
2022-23	PHI	74	1142:11	0.05	0.53	0.58	0.13	-0.07	1.45	3.52	-2.07	5.21	2.08
2023-24	PHI	31	447:03	0.13	0.40	0.54	0.24	-0.11	2.38	4.34	-1.96	0.00	1.82
2024-25	PHI	63	1039:48	0.12	0.58	0.69	0.23	-0.12	2.44	4.90	-2.46	0.00	4.39
2025-26	PHI	13	219:03	0.00	0.27	0.27	0.16	-0.16	0.00	3.83	-3.83	0.00	0.00

5v5 On Ice Stats

Season	Team(s)	GP	TOI	SAF/60	GF/60	xGF/60	SAA/60	GA/60	xGA/60	GF%	xGF%	xGF Rel	xGA Rel	xGF% Rel
2015-16	BUF	82	1459:58	36.62	1.81	1.91	44.43	2.38	2.23	43.14	46.19	0.03	0.17	-1.48
2016-17	BUF	79	1495:07	38.93	2.01	2.14	50.28	2.45	2.39	45.04	47.23	0.10	0.18	-0.70
2017-18	BUF	73	1345:47	42.89	1.87	2.09	45.61	2.45	2.41	43.30	46.46	0.19	0.16	0.61
2018-19	BUF	78	1413:28	42.28	2.12	2.44	45.29	3.10	2.62	40.65	48.20	0.11	0.10	0.19
2019-20	BUF	69	1176:16	36.01	2.40	1.96	43.46	2.45	2.36	49.47	45.32	-0.24	0.11	-4.11
2020-21	BUF	49	817:21	34.80	1.84	2.12	47.20	3.16	2.79	36.76	43.22	-0.17	0.21	-3.80
2021-22	PHI	66	1199:32	42.07	2.70	2.49	47.87	2.75	2.92	49.54	46.10	0.29	0.09	2.24
2022-23	PHI	74	1142:11	38.61	2.26	2.30	40.76	2.63	2.41	46.24	48.88	-0.17	-0.34	1.55
2023-24	PHI	31	447:03	49.39	2.42	2.75	39.19	2.68	2.02	47.37	57.60	0.35	-0.34	7.22
2024-25	PHI	63	1039:48	39.93	2.25	2.27	37.80	2.54	2.07	46.99	52.32	-0.23	-0.06	-1.71
2025-26	PHI	13	219:03	36.16	0.82	2.09	37.25	1.92	2.27	30.00	47.89	-0.63	-0.14	-5.11

NHL Edge Stats

		Skating				Shooting					Zone Time
Season	GP	Top Speed	Bursts>20/mi	Avg. Speed	ES Avg. Speed	Top Speed	Avg. Speed	%Long Range	%Mid Range	%High Danger	ES DZ%	ES NZ%	ES OZ%
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Legend

Percentile 0-25

Percentile 25-50

Percentile 50-75

Percentile 75-100

Forwards are compared with forwards and Defensemen are are compared with Defensemen.

5v5 Defense Pairs

Season

Season	Teammate	Team	TOI	GF/60	GA/60	GF%	xGF/60	xGA/60	xGF%	xGF Rel	xGA Rel	xGF% Rel
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Glossary

Type	Statistic	Definition
Individual	G/60	Goals Against per 60 minutes.
Individual	A/60	Assists per 60 minutes.
Individual	Pts/60	Points per 60 minutes.
Individual	xG/60	Expected Goals per 60 minutes.
Individual	GAE/60	Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60).
Individual	Sh%	Shooting Percentage.
Individual	xSh%	Expected Shooting Percentage.
Individual	Sh%AE	Shooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%).
Individual	%SA Rush	Percentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush.
Individual	%SA Reb.	Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds.
On Ice	SAF/60	Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes.
On Ice	GF/60	Goals For per 60 minutes.
On Ice	xGF/60	Expected Goals For per 60 minutes.
On Ice	SAA/60	Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On Ice	GA/60	Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On Ice	xGA/60	Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On Ice	GF%	Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
On Ice	xGF%	Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against)
On Ice	xGF Rel	xGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice.
On Ice	xGA Rel	xGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better).
On Ice	xGF% Rel	xGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice.

Individual and On-Ice stats from Puckalytics.com (starting in 2015-16). NHL Edge Stats from edge.nhl.com (starting in 2021-22). Edge statistic definitions can be found at the Edge Stats Glossary.

News and Opinions

ICYMI: McDonald, Pederson Join Flyers as Ristolainen, Ābols Hit IR at Flyer Nation (Sun Jan 18, 2026)
Flyers Officially Place Ristolainen on IR, Recall Defenseman from Lehigh Valley at Philly Hockey Now (Sat Jan 17, 2026)
Rasmus Ristolainen sidelined again with injury amidst trade talks at Broad Street Hockey (Sat Jan 17, 2026)
Rasmus Ristolainen a late scratch, Dan Vladar leaves early with injury at Broad Street Hockey (Wed Jan 14, 2026)
Flyers Rasmus Ristolainen Out vs. Buffalo, Status for Thursday in Question at Philly Hockey Now (Wed Jan 14, 2026)
Flyers Trade Talk: Who Could be in Play for Rasmus Ristolainen at Philly Hockey Now (Mon Jan 12, 2026)
Why the Flyers need to trade Rasmus Ristolainen as soon as possible at Broad Street Hockey (Mon Jan 12, 2026)
What Rasmus Ristolainen's role should look like on Team Finland at Broad Street Buzz (Sat Jan 10, 2026)
NHL Rumor Roundup: Will The Canucks Trade Or Sign Kiefer Sherwood? Could The Flyers Peddle Rasmus Ristolainen? at The Hockey News (Fri Jan 9, 2026)
Comparing Rasmus Ristolainen trade talk to Flyers moving Sean Walker at Broad Street Hockey (Fri Jan 9, 2026)
Despite Dvorak’s Extension, Flyers Could Still Entertain Offers on Ristolainen at Flyer Nation (Thu Jan 8, 2026)
NHL News: Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen available for trade, Blue Jackets sign Zamula, and more at Oilers Nation (Tue Jan 6, 2026)
NHL Rumors: Former Buffalo Sabres cornerstone added to trade block at Sabres Noise (Tue Jan 6, 2026)
Rasmus Ristolainen becomes the third Flyer to be selected for the 2026 Olympics at Flyers Nitty Gritty (Fri Jan 2, 2026)
Olympic Bound: Rasmus Ristolainen Named to Team Finland for 2026 Winter Olympics at Philly Hockey Now (Fri Jan 2, 2026)
Ristolainen going to Olympics, will represent Flyers on Team Finland at Yahoo Sports NHL (Fri Jan 2, 2026)
Flyers Naughty or Nice: Who made the list? at Broad Street Hockey (Tue Dec 23, 2025)
Rasmus Ristolainen showed off last night, and played well in his return to the Flyers lineup at Flyers Nitty Gritty (Wed Dec 17, 2025)
Rasmus Ristolainen showed why Flyers missed him in return from injury at Broad Street Hockey (Wed Dec 17, 2025)
Flyers @ Canadiens: How to watch, lineups, and gamethread at Broad Street Hockey (Tue Dec 16, 2025)
Flyers juggle lines, Rasmus Ristolainen set to return versus Canadiens at Broad Street Hockey (Tue Dec 16, 2025)
Flyers Practice Notebook: Missed Opportunities, Ristolainen Returns, Rookie Debut? at Philly Hockey Now (Mon Dec 8, 2025)
With Rasmus Ristolainen's imminent return, Flyers must make decisions on defense at Pens Labyrinth (Thu Dec 4, 2025)
Rasmus Ristolainen Skates With Flyers as his Rehab Continues at Philly Hockey Now (Wed Dec 3, 2025)
Brière Offers Injury Updates For Pair of Flyers Defensemen at Flyer Nation (Tue Oct 28, 2025)
Samuel Ersson will start tonight for the Flyers, Rasmus Ristolainen and Oliver Bonk Updates at Flyers Nitty Gritty (Tue Oct 28, 2025)
Flyers inch closer to blue line help after latest injury update at Broad Street Buzz (Thu Oct 23, 2025)
Flyers’ Ristolainen, Bonk out for at least 5 more weeks, according to report at Broad Street Hockey (Thu Oct 23, 2025)
Flyers 2025-26 Season Preview: Can the Flyers continue to maximize their defensive depth? at Broad Street Hockey (Mon Sep 22, 2025)
Top contenders to replace injured Rasmus Ristolainen on Flyers’ blue line at Broad Street Hockey (Thu Sep 18, 2025)
Rasmus Ristolainen Expected to Miss Start of the 2025-26 Season at Flyer Nation (Tue Sep 16, 2025)
Injured Flyers Defenseman Progressing, Not Close to Returning Yet at Yahoo Sports NHL (Tue Sep 16, 2025)
The Oasis song that best describes each Flyer at Broad Street Hockey (Fri Aug 29, 2025)
Rasmus Ristolainen might be facing his final season in Philadelphia at Broad Street Buzz (Fri Aug 29, 2025)
6 Flyers who might not end the season as Flyers at Broad Street Hockey (Mon Aug 11, 2025)
Will the Flyers Defense be Enough? at Philly Hockey Now (Fri Aug 8, 2025)
Predicting the Flyers 2025 Opening Night Roster at Philly Hockey Now (Thu Jul 10, 2025)
NHL trade candidates 2025: 10 players who could be moved before NHL trade deadline at NY Islanders Hockey Now (Fri Jan 24, 2025)

Current Contract

Rasmus Ristolainen signed a $25,500,000 5-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers and General Manager Chuck Fletcher on March 10, 2022 with an AAV of $5,100,000. This contract will start in 2022-23 and end after the 2026-27 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 6.18% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2022-23	27	$5,100,000	$5,100,000	-	-	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	UFA
2023-24	28	$5,100,000	$5,100,000	-	-	$5,500,000	$5,500,000	$5,500,000	UFA
2024-25	29	$5,100,000	$5,100,000	-	-	$6,500,000	$6,500,000	$6,500,000	UFA
2025-26	30	$5,100,000	$5,100,000	-	-	$5,500,000	$5,500,000	$5,500,000	UFA
2026-27	31	$5,100,000	$5,100,000	-	-	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	UFA
Total				-	-	$25,500,000	$25,500,000	$25,500,000

Signed: Mar 10, 2022

Team: Philadelphia Flyers

GM: Chuck Fletcher

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 6.18

Previous Contracts (show) (hide)

Rasmus Ristolainen signed a $32,400,000 6-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres and General Manager Tim Murray on October 11, 2016 with an AAV of $5,400,000. This contract will start in 2016-17 and end after the 2021-22 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 7.40% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (RFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2016-17	21	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	-	-	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	RFA
2017-18	22	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	-	-	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	RFA-arb
2018-19	23	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	-	-	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	RFA-arb
2019-20	24	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	-	-	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	RFA-arb
2020-21	25	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	-	$1,000,000	$4,400,000	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	RFA-arb
2021-22	26	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	-	-	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	$5,400,000	UFA
Total				-	$1,000,000	$31,400,000	$32,400,000	$32,400,000

Signed: Oct 11, 2016

Team: Buffalo Sabres

GM: Tim Murray

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 7.4

Rasmus Ristolainen signed a $2,775,000 3-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres and General Manager Darcy Regier on July 12, 2013 with an AAV of $925,000. This contract will start in 2013-14 and end after the 2015-16 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.44% of the salary cap.

Entry Level Contract ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2013-14	18	$925,000	$1,775,000	$850,000	$92,500	$832,500	$925,000	$70,000	ELC
2014-15	19	$925,000	$1,775,000	$850,000	$92,500	$832,500	$925,000	$70,000	ELC
2015-16	20	$925,000	$1,775,000	$850,000	$92,500	$832,500	$925,000	$70,000	ELC
Total				$2,550,000	$277,500	$2,497,500	$2,775,000	$210,000

Signed: July 12, 2013

Team: Buffalo Sabres

GM: Darcy Regier

Exp. Status: RFA

Career Statistics

			Regular Season									Playoffs
Season	League	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	Shots	Sh%	TOI/G	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	Shots	Sh%	TOI/G
2008-09	Jr. C SM-sarja Q	TPS U16	5	0	0	0
2008-09	U16 SM-sarja	TPS U16										7	1	1	2		2
2009-10	Fin-Jr.	Tps Jr.	5	1	1	2
2009-10	Fin-U18	TPS U18	32	3	7	10		28				3	1		1		4
2010-11	Fin-Jr.	TPS Jr.	27	0	12	12		30
2010-11	Finland	TPS	1	0	0	0
2010-11	Fin-U18	TPS U18	2	1	2	3						13	5	3	8		8
2011-12	Fin-Jr.	TPS Jr.	8	0	4	4		6
2011-12	Finland	TPS	40	3	5	8		78				2
2012-13	Finland	TPS	52	3	12	15		32
2012-13	Fin-Jr.	TPS Jr.										5	2	1	3		2
2013-14	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	34	2	2	4	-15	6	52	3.8	19:07
2013-14	WJC-A	Finland	5	3	0	3	+1	8	15
2013-14	AHL	Rochester	34	6	14	20	-2	22	66	910.0		5		2	2	-2	2	11	0.0
2014-15	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	78	8	12	20	-32	26	121	6.6	20:37
2014-15	EHT	Finland	4	0	0	0	-1	2
2015-16	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	82	9	32	41	-21	33	202	4.5	25:17
2016-17	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	79	6	39	45	-9	58	186	3.2	26:28
2016-17	WCup	Finland	3	0	0	0	-2
2017-18	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	73	6	35	41	-25	48	182	3.3	26:30
2018-19	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	78	5	38	43	-41	38	182	2.8	24:38
2019-20	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	69	6	27	33	-2	46	128	4.7	22:48
2020-21	NHL	Buffalo Sabres	49	4	14	18	-18	36	73	5.5	22:17
2021-22	NHL	Philadelphia Flyers	66	2	14	16	-9	38	97	2.1	21:26
2022-23	NHL	Philadelphia Flyers	74	3	17	20	-4	32	86	3.5	19:01
2023-24	NHL	Philadelphia Flyers	31	1	3	4	-6	8	46	2.2	16:41
2024-25	NHL	Philadelphia Flyers	63	4	15	19	+3	14	100	4.0	20:31
2025-26	NHL	Philadelphia Flyers	13	0	3	3	-3	4	24	0.0	20:59
NHL Career			789	56	251	307	-182	387	1479	3.8	22:37