The Philadelphia Flyers will have to be without one of their defencemen for part of next season. News emerged late Thursday morning that Rasmus Ristolainen will be out six months after having tricep surgery in late March. The Finnish blueliner is expected to miss training camp.
Per Flyers, Rasmus Ristolainen “underwent successful surgery on his right triceps tendon rupture on March 26.”Expected to miss training camp and is out “about six months.”
— Kevin Kurz (@kevinkurznhl.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T15:08:37.006Z
Rasmus Ristolainen Out Six Months for Philadelphia Flyers
Ristolainen needed surgery for a ruptured right triceps tendon. Team officials said that the 30-year-old’s procedure was a successful one. This is the second time that the veteran has dealt with a ruptured triceps tendon in April 2024.
The most-recent rupture caused Ristolainen to miss the final 16 games of the season. He notched 19 points in 63 games this season and played some of his best hockey of his career. The veteran blueliner had a Corsi for of 47.5 and a relative Corsi of -1.6.
Ristolainen has played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Flyers over his 12-year NHL career. Buffalo originally drafted the Turku, Finland native in the first round, eighth overall of the 2013 NHL Draft.
He’s represented his native Finland at the international level. Ristolainen scored the overtime-winner in the gold medal game of the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships. He was selected for the Four Nations Face-Off, but was backed out due to injury concerns.
What It Means
Ristolainen had been the subject of criticism, but had played some good hockey last season. Losing him will definitely hurt, but this could open the door for some younger defenders to make the team.
He remains signed with the team through the 2026-27 season. However, the veteran defender had been the subject of trade rumours. There was chatter that Ristolainen would be traded, but nothing came to pass. He carries a $5.1 million cap hit, but there was some interest.
Philadelphia may give some younger players a shot. However, having veterans like Ristolainen on the roster will still be helpful to guide these youngsters along.
Main photo by: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
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