Rasmus Ristolainen

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]

Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born (1994-10-27) 27 October 1994 (age 29)
Turku, Finland
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
PositionDefence
ShootsRight
NHL team
Former teams
Philadelphia Flyers
TPS
Buffalo Sabres
National team Finland
NHL draft8th overall, 2013
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career2011–present

Playing career

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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 later in the month, on 25 October against Jacob Markström of the Florida Panthers. 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. He scored his first NHL hat-trick on 10 December 2015 against the Calgary Flames. In so doing, 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] On 10 March 2022, he signed a five-year contract extension with the Flyers.[6]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2009–10TPSFIN U18243471231014
2009–10TPSFIN U2051120
2010–11TPSFIN U1821230135388
2010–11TPSFIN U20270121230
2010–11TPSSM-l10000
2011–12TPSFIN U2080446
2011–12TPSSM-l403587820000
2012–13TPSSM-l523121532
2012–13TPSFIN U2052132
2013–14Buffalo SabresNHL342246
2013–14Rochester AmericansAHL34614202250222
2014–15Buffalo SabresNHL788122026
2015–16Buffalo SabresNHL829324133
2016–17Buffalo SabresNHL796394558
2017–18Buffalo SabresNHL736354148
2018–19Buffalo SabresNHL785384338
2019–20Buffalo SabresNHL696273346
2020–21Buffalo SabresNHL494141836
2021–22Philadelphia FlyersNHL662141638
2022–23Philadelphia FlyersNHL743172032
2023–24Philadelphia FlyersNHL311348
Liiga totals936172311020000
NHL totals71352233285369

International

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Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Junior Championships
2014 Malmö
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2010FinlandU1710th50224
2011FinlandU177th51014
2011FinlandIH184th512310
2012FinlandWJC4th70330
2012FinlandWJC184th721310
2013FinlandWJC7th624620
2014FinlandWJC 53038
2016FinlandWCH8th30000
Junior totals409122156
Senior totals30000

References

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  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. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Flyers acquire defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen from Sabres". Philadelphia Flyers. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Flyers Re-Sign Rasmus Ristolainen to Five Year Extension". NHL.com. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
2013
Succeeded by