Ristolainen missed the Flyers' first 20 games of the 2023-24 season but has been activated off the injured reserve and will make his season debut vs. the Islanders Saturday. The 29-year-old will replace Egor Zamula and is entering his 11th NHL season after posting three goals and 20 points in 74 games played in 2022-23.
Ristolainen has yet to appear in 2023-24 for the Flyers and will now be out indefinitely after he suffered a setback due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old is in the second year of a five-year, $25.5 million contract ($5,100,000 AAV) and had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played in 2022-23.
After originally being listed as a game-time decision, Ristolainen has officially been ruled out for the Flyers' season opener. In 74 games last season, Ristolainen tallied 20 points (3G / 17A) and 162 hits. Egor Zamula is expected to slot onto the third defensive pairing in his absence.
Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice and is beginning the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury but is a game-time decision for Philadelphia's opener Thursday vs. Columbus. If the 28-year-old defenseman is unable to go it will leave a large gap in the Flyers defensive pairings. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.
Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice but will begin the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old defensemen will miss an undisclosed amount of time leaving a large gap in the Flyers defensive unit. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.
Ristolainen missed the Flyers' previous game due to an upper-body injury and will be a game-time decision Tuesday as the Flyers take on Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old has three goals, 15 assists, 70 SOG, 28 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 68 games before his injury.
Ristolainen has been on the injured reserve with a lower-body injury since last playing Nov 2nd in Toronto. The 28-year-old will be hoping for much better results than his first four games of the season, as he is playing a career-low 17:20 ATOI and is a -4 plus/minus with zero points.
Ristolainen missed the first six games of the regular season but is set to make his season debut on Thursday. In his first season with the Flyers in 2021-22, Ristolainen had 16 points (2G / 14A), a minus-9 rating, 125 blocked shots and 230 hits in 66 games.
Ristolainen missed the first two games of the season, and moving him to IR opened up a roster spot for the Flyers to call up Louie Belpedio from Lehigh Valley (AHL) for the Flyers' three-game road trip.
Ristolainen was nicked up in practice earlier this week, missed the season opener and will miss their second game as well. Unsurprisingly, John Tortorella did not provide many details on Ristolainen's injury, so keep an eye on if he travels to Tampa for next week's road trip.
Ristolainen left Wednesday's practice early and did not participate in Thursday's morning skate. Ristolainen is considered day-to-day and will not play in the season opener. Justin Braun will move up to the top-4 and Nick Seeler will suit up with Ristolainen unavailable.
Ristolainen was a pending UFA, who has scored two goals with 11 assists (13 points), 177 hits and 90 blocked shots in 49 games with the Flyers this season. Ristolainen was acquired from the Sabres in July, sending a first-round pick, second-round pick and Robert Hagg the other way.
Ristolainen missed the last three games with an upper-body injury but will play on Monday afternoon. Prior to getting hurt, Ristolainen had just three points (1G / 2A) while averaging 20:47 TOI/gm in his last 14 games.
Ristolainen is a little "banged up" after Wednesday's game, so he'll come out of the lineup on Saturday afternoon. Kevin Connauton will draw into the lineup to replace him.
Ristolainen missed one game while in COVID-19 protocol but was a healthy scratch Saturday as he got himself back up to speed. Ristolainen re-enters the Flyers lineup with eight points (1G / 7A) in 33 games while averaging 21:19 TOI/gm.
Ristolainen missed the first two games of the season with an upper-body injury but will play Wednesday vs. the Bruins. Look for Ristolainen to skate on the second pairing with Travis Sanheim in his debut.
Ristolaien was on the ice for Sunday's practice but will remain out of the lineup on Monday. Nick Seeler will play in Ristolainen's spot again. Consider Ristolainen day-to-day and expect him to make his debut later this week.
Ristolainen was acquired from the Sabres this offseason but his Flyers debut will have to wait, as he's sidelined by an upper-body injury. With Ristolainen sidelined, Nick Seeler will skate on the third pairing next to Keith Yandle.
