PuckSleuth
55Philadelphia Flyers · Defense · Shoots R
Rasmus Ristolainen
Age 31 · 6'4" · 208 lb · Born in Turku, FIN
Cap hit
$5.1M
4.9% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$646K
vs. $5.746M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
3
Goals
1
25.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
1
0.33 per game
TOI/GP
18:17
PP 0:05 · PK 2:09
Plus/minus
0
Hits
4
Blocks 7
PIM
0
Game Score
+0.49
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 vs CAR · OTL 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14:26 | 0:02 | 1:03 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.26 |
| Oct 1 @ NJD · OTL 3-2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 22:44 | 0:00 | 3:11 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +1.41 |
| Sep 30 vs PIT · L 7-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17:40 | 0:13 | 2:14 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -0.18 |
| May 9 vs CAR · OTL 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 23:34 | 1:45 | 0:54 | — | 29 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -0.25 |
| May 7 vs CAR · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20:09 | 2:21 | 4:59 | — | 50 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -0.15 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 750 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
77th percentile
50th percentile
81st percentile
37th percentile
59th percentile
43rd percentile
67th percentile
16th percentile
70th percentile
81st percentile
3rd percentile
29th percentile
64th percentile
21st percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleAggressive puck-mover
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Ristolainen is a dynamic defenseman who creates chances by controlling the puck and leading the rush, but his playmaking and speed lag behind his peers. He compensates with strong forechecking and physicality to stay involved in both directions.
- Shooting volume
- 60
- Playmaking
- 39
- Zone entries(est.)
- 75
- Forechecking
- 70
- Physicality
- 52
- Defensive impact
- 48
- Puck management
- 80
- Speed
- 40
Where he shoots from
Slot 18% · Mid-range 22% · Perimeter 60%(92 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Excellent puck management at the 80th percentile enables transition play
- Strong rush chances generation at the 75th percentile keeps offense flowing
- Active forechecking at the 70th percentile applies consistent pressure
Watch-outs
- Playmaking at 39th percentile limits his passing effectiveness
- Speed at 40th percentile may slow his ability to recover defensively
Similar style: Brett Pesce (NJD), Johnathan Kovacevic
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | Jr. C SM-sarja Q | TPS U16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008-09 (playoffs) | U16 SM-sarja | TPS U16 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 |
| 2009-10 | Fin-U18 | TPS U18 | 32 | 3 | 7 | 10 | — | 28 |
| 2009-10 | Fin-Jr. | Tps Jr. | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 0 |
| 2009-10 (playoffs) | Fin-U18 | TPS U18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 4 |
| 2010-11 | Fin-U18 | TPS U18 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 0 |
| 2010-11 | Fin-Jr. | TPS Jr. | 27 | 0 | 12 | 12 | — | 30 |
| 2010-11 | Finland | TPS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2010-11 (playoffs) | Fin-U18 | TPS U18 | 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 |
| 2011-12 (playoffs) | Finland | TPS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2012-13 | Finland | TPS | 52 | 3 | 12 | 15 | — | 32 |
| 2012-13 (playoffs) | Fin-Jr. | TPS Jr. | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 2 |
| 2013-14 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 34 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -15 | 6 |
| 2013-14 | AHL | Rochester | 34 | 6 | 14 | 20 | -2 | 22 |
| 2013-14 | WJC-A | Finland | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | +1 | 8 |
| 2013-14 (playoffs) | AHL | Rochester | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| 2014-15 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 8 | 12 | 20 | -32 | 26 |
| 2014-15 | EHT | Finland | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 |
| 2015-16 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 9 | 32 | 41 | -21 | 33 |
| 2016-17 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 79 | 6 | 39 | 45 | -9 | 58 |
| 2016-17 | WCup | Finland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 73 | 6 | 35 | 41 | -25 | 48 |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 5 | 38 | 43 | -41 | 38 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 69 | 6 | 27 | 33 | -2 | 46 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | 49 | 4 | 14 | 18 | -18 | 36 |
| 2021-22 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 66 | 2 | 14 | 16 | -9 | 38 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 74 | 3 | 17 | 20 | -4 | 32 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -6 | 8 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 63 | 4 | 15 | 19 | +3 | 14 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 44 | 1 | 13 | 14 | +10 | 16 |
| 2025-26 | OG | Finland | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +9 | 2 |
| 2025-26 (playoffs) | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | +1 | 20 |
| 2026-27 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Flyers News: Rasmus Ristolainen Makes Road Trip Amid Injury Scare
Yahoo Sports · Oct 5
- Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen leaves game with undisclosed injury
Daily Faceoff · Oct 4
- Flyers Lose Rasmus Ristolainen to Injury; Team Weighing Options
Yahoo · Oct 4
- Ristolainen scores the Flyers first goal of the season on deflection vs. Devils
NBC Sports Philadelphia · Oct 1
- The Flyers just got a brutal reminder that last season means nothing now
broadstreethockey.com · Oct 1
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.33 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.40 per game
2025-26 · 44 GP
Season total +17.4, or +0.40 per game.
- Scoring
- +8.3
- Shooting
- +4.3
- 5-on-5 goals
- +0.5
- Defense
- +0.9
- Penalty kill
- +0.3
- Physical play
- +4.1
- Puck battles
- -1.4
- Penalties
- +0.4
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 18.6 mph
- 11th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 82.6 mph
- 70th pct
- Distance
- 2.4 mi
- OZ time
- 35.4%
- 7th pct
- DZ time
- 50.5%
Usage
Last game: vs CAR, Oct 3
Pair 2 with Travis Sanheim (11:05 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Age curve
At 31: 86% of peak
NHL defensemen · production index
At 31, defensemen typically produce 86% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PHI | $5.1M | 4.9% |
UFA after 2026-27. $5.1M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).