Flyers Extend Rasmus Ristolainen to Five-Year, $25.5-Million Contract Extension
It’s time to cross one potential trade chip off the list.
Making a significant move prior to the Mar. 21 trade deadline, the Philadelphia Flyers have re-signed defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen to a lucrative contract extension, the club announced Thursday.
Ristolainen, 27, is set to finish his current six-year, $32.4 million deal this summer, and was originally set to become an unrestricted free agent. Now, the 6’4” blueliner is signed through 2026-27 and will carry a $5.1 million cap hit.
Prior to this announcement, there was plenty of speculation about whether Philadelphia would end up trading the right-handed defenceman at the 2022 Trade Deadline. Obviously, management felt as though he could still play a role in the team’s long term plans, inking for at least five more seasons.
Despite this signing, however, the Flyers are still expected to serve as sellers leading up to the 3:00 pm ET deadline.
Acquiring Ristolainen last off-season, the Flyers made a blockbuster deal with the Buffalo Sabres, sending defenceman Robert Hagg, a 2021 first-round pick (Isak Rosen) and a 2023 second-round selection in return.
In his inaugural campaign with Philadelphia, the native of Turku, Finland, has logged 21:22 minutes of ice-time per game, posting two goals and 13 points over 49 contests. He’s also recorded 177 hits, 90 blocks, 72 shots on goal and nine takeaways.
Amid what’s been a very disappointing 2021-22 season, Philadelphia currently sits sixth last in the National Hockey League with a miserable 18-28-10 record and 46 points.
The Flyers will begin a two-game road trip Thursday against the Florida Panthers, beginning at 7:00 pm ET.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85