Rasmus Ristolainen

Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born (1994-10-27) 27 October 1994 (age 30)
Turku, Finland
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Philadelphia Flyers
TPS
Buffalo Sabres
National team  Finland
NHL draft 8th overall, 2013
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2011–present

Rasmus Ristolainen (born 27 October 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL entry draft.[1][2]

Playing career

Ristolainen made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres on the opening night of the 2013–14 season, on 2 October 2013, against the Detroit Red Wings. He scored his first career NHL goal on 25 October, in a 3–1 win over the Florida Panthers.[3] He scored his first NHL hat-trick on 10 December 2015, in a 4–3 loss against the Calgary Flames.[4] In doing so, he became the first Sabres' defenceman to score a hat-trick since Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Housley did so in the 1987–88 season.[5]

On 21 March 2017, Ristolainen delivered a check to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel. Guentzel suffered a concussion on the play, and Ristolainen was given a three-game suspension for interference by the league.[6]

On 23 July 2021, Ristolainen was traded by the Sabres to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Robert Hägg, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick.[7] On 10 March 2022, he signed a five-year contract extension with the Flyers.[8]

International play

On 5 January 2014, Ristolainen scored the overtime winner in the final of the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships against previously undefeated Sweden, giving Finland the gold medal.[citation needed]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 TPS FIN U18 24 3 4 7 12 3 1 0 1 4
2009–10 TPS FIN U20 5 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2010–11 TPS FIN U18 2 1 2 3 0 13 5 3 8 8
2010–11 TPS FIN U20 27 0 12 12 30 — — — — —
2010–11 TPS SM-l 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2011–12 TPS FIN U20 8 0 4 4 6 — — — — —
2011–12 TPS SM-l 40 3 5 8 78 2 0 0 0 0
2012–13 TPS SM-l 52 3 12 15 32 — — — — —
2012–13 TPS FIN U20 — — — — — 5 2 1 3 2
2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 34 2 2 4 6 — — — — —
2013–14 Rochester Americans AHL 34 6 14 20 22 5 0 2 2 2
2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 8 12 20 26 — — — — —
2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 82 9 32 41 33 — — — — —
2016–17 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 6 39 45 58 — — — — —
2017–18 Buffalo Sabres NHL 73 6 35 41 48 — — — — —
2018–19 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 5 38 43 38 — — — — —
2019–20 Buffalo Sabres NHL 69 6 27 33 46 — — — — —
2020–21 Buffalo Sabres NHL 49 4 14 18 36 — — — — —
2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 66 2 14 16 38 — — — — —
2022–23 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 74 3 17 20 32 — — — — —
2023–24 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 31 1 3 4 8 — — — — —
Liiga totals 93 6 17 23 110 2 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 713 52 233 285 369 — — — — —

International

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Malmö
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Finland U17 10th 5 0 2 2 4
2011 Finland U17 7th 5 1 0 1 4
2011 Finland IH18 4th 5 1 2 3 10
2012 Finland WJC 4th 7 0 3 3 0
2012 Finland WJC18 4th 7 2 1 3 10
2013 Finland WJC 7th 6 2 4 6 20
2014 Finland WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 3 0 3 8
2016 Finland WCH 8th 3 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 40 9 12 21 56
Senior totals 3 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ "Sabres select Finnish defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen with their first pick in NHL draft". Buffalo News. 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. ^ Ryndak, Chris (30 June 2013). "2013 NHL DRAFT". NHL.com. Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Ott, Enroth lead Sabres over Panthers, 3-1". ESPN. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Gaudreau spoils Ristolainen's hat trick, Flames beat Sabres". ESPN. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  5. ^ Cuthbert, Justin (11 December 2015). "Ristolainen scores 1st career hat trick; emerging as elite young D-man". thescore.com. The Score. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  6. ^ Goldberg, Rob (23 March 2017). "Rasmus Ristolainen Suspended 3 Games for Hit on Penguins Forward Jake Guentzel". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Flyers acquire defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen from Sabres". Philadelphia Flyers. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Flyers Re-Sign Rasmus Ristolainen to Five Year Extension". NHL.com. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
2013 		Succeeded by