Flyers Acquire Rasmus Ristolainen from Sabres

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher continued his active offseason by acquiring Rasmus Ristolainen from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for their first-round pick in tonight’s NHL Entry Draft, defenseman Robert Hagg, and a future second-round pick.

Ristolainen will make $5.4 million in the final year of his deal in 2021-22.

The Philadelphia blue line has been the major focus of the recent deals. They have added Ristolainen and Ryan Ellis while subtracting Shayne Gostisbehere, Philippe Myers, and Hagg. The shuffle has added roughly $3 million in salary for a team that is tight against the flat cap.

Ristolainen was drafted eighth overall by the Sabres in 2013. He has never truly developed into the top-pair defenseman they hoped for, but he has shown ability to make contributions on the back end. He finished with 245 points in 542 games with Buffalo, who has failed to make the postseason since 2011.

At 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, he brings a strong physical element to the game. The Flyers have had trouble competing against grinding, tenacious teams like the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals at times in recent seasons. The move will help them play a more intense style against their division foes.

Analytical statistics do not favor the contributions of Ristolainen during his tenure in Buffalo. However, the Flyers will likely use him in a much different role considering their defensive depth chart with Ellis and Ivan Provorov as the assumed first pairing.

Fletcher is expected to retain restricted free agent defenseman Travis Sanheim to play the left side on the team’s second defensive pair. Ristolainen, a right-handed shot, will likely partner with Sanheim.

Following the expansion draft, rumors circulated about the possibility of Fletcher pursuing forward Sam Reinhart from the Sabres. The acquisition seems less likely now that a deal between the two teams has already been completed.

The Flyers will still need to sign Sanheim, Carter Hart, and a backup goaltender with minimal salary space left to work with. The addition of another forward and the possible subtraction of a highly paid player, such as Jakub Voracek, is still possible in the coming days.