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 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

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	Rochester Americans	AHL		34	6	14	20	22		5	0	2	2	2
2013–14	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		34	2	2	4	6		—	—	—	—	—
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		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		63	4	15	19	14		—	—	—	—	—
Liiga totals				93	6	17	23	110		2	0	0	0	0
NHL totals				776	56	248	304	383		—	—	—	—	—

International

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Junior Championships
	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			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