Philadelphia Flyers 2024-25 Player Preview: Rasmus Ristolainen

I don't know if I've seen a player in a Flyers' uniform so divisive as Rasmus Ristolainen. I also can't recall if I've seen a player who has had a career so rollercoastery as him. He sucks and then he is good and then he sucks and then he is good but now he is hurt. On and on and on. He's a player you just can't quite put your finger on. And after being hurt for almost all of last year, is he even someone that the Flyers can depend on anymore?

At this point, we all know his story. He was a heralded prospect/young player in Buffalo who maybe needed a change of scenery and escape from playing on a perpetually bad team. The Flyers traded a first and second-rounder, and defensive prospect Robert Hagg to acquire him. This was a deal that many, many, many Flyers fans thought was too high, especially as it coincided with trading Shayne Gostisbehere to Arizona for nothing. He was then signed by former general manager Chuck Fletcher to a five-year contract worth $5 million a year.

Rasmus Ristolainen needs to have a healthy season

His first year in Philly was nothing short of a disappointment. For a guy who was supposed to be a physical beast but also score, he did neither well. He drew too many penalties. He scored just two goals with 16 assists. That's not how someone paid like that was supposed to do.

Following that, the Flyers had a change of administration. John Tortorella came, called him out for poor play, benched him, and then saw him take off. He was a renewed man and played his best hockey since arriving in Philadelphia. Big things were expected of him last year.

Then he got hurt in training camp. He didn't appear until several weeks into the season, played in just 31 games, and then was gone with another injury. Even then, when he played, he was barely noticeable.

So for Ristolainen, this season is a big one for both him and the Flyers. If he is healthy and back to form, he could be part of a strong defensive corps that could include pairings of Travis Sanheim-Jamie Drysdale, Nick Seeler-Cam York, Egor Zamula-Erik Johnson/Ristolainen. That's not a bad seven-man grouping of blueliners. However, it depends on if Ristolainien is healthy and if he is playing well.

If he isn't back to form, Ristolainen could be facing his final season as a Flyer. He is on the books for two more seasons after this year. This could make him a prime trade candidate or buyout, however, that would just add to the Flyer's salary cap woes of continuing to pay for players who are no longer here. It's up to him now. Which Ristolainen will we get? Will we get the one who isn't good, the one who is arguably one of the best defenders on the team, or an injury-prone guy who will miss most of the year? Time will tell.