Philadelphia Flyers
Rasmus Ristolainen is trying to block out talk he might be moved by the Flyers before the Deadline, but the 30-year-old defenseman understands it’s part of the business.
“It’s obviously not the first time and it’s one of those things I can’t really control, so I don’t really bother my mind with it,” Ristolainen said after practice Monday. “I just come in every day and work hard.”
Ristolainen has two more seasons remaining after this on the five-year, $25.5 million contract ($5.1 million average annual value) he signed with Philadelphia on March 22, 2022. So, the Flyers don’t have an urgency to trade Ristolainen, who has 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) and has averaged 20:31 of ice time in 59 games this season.
But a right-shot defenseman under contract for two more seasons could bring in valuable assets for Philadelphia, which is trying to simultaneously rebuild and be competitive. The Flyers (27-26-8) are 4-0-1 in their past five games to move within four points of the Red Wings and Rangers for the second wild card in the East heading into a home game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, SNW).
So, Ristolainen hasn’t given up on getting his first experience in the NHL playoffs with the Flyers this season.
“I do believe in this locker room,” he said. “I feel we’re a very, very tight group, and obviously, after the (4 Nations) break, we’ve been playing some really good hockey and able to grab some wins and points. And I believe we can keep going and we can take it day by day and game by game and I believe we can make a push.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Stefen Rosner contributed to this report
