Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Brière has confirmed that defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss the start of the 2025-26 regular season as he rehabs from his triceps tendon surgery.
The hulking Finnish defenseman was forced to miss the final 16 games of the 2024-25 campaign due to the injury and underwent surgery in March. It was the second time in as many years that he had to deal with a ruptured triceps tendon, although he was able to recover in time for the start of the 2024-25 season the first go around.
Ristolainen was in the midst of his best season in Philadelphia as he had accumulated 19 points in 63 games to go along with 100 shots, a +3 rating, 94 blocked shots, 97 hits, and 100 shots on goal in 20:31 ATOI. He had begun to turn a corner under Brad Shaw’s tutelage after a disappointing start to his tenure that included a 5-year contract extension.
In what will be his 5th year with the club, the defenseman will now miss his 4th season opener due to injury. Out of a possible 328 games played, Ristolainen has missed 94 contests, including 51 games in 2023-24.
Brière mentions that the Flyers always expected him to miss training camp and the start of the regular season after he was given a 6-month timetable to return to action after his surgery. That in turn is probably why they coveted depth defensemen on July 1st when they signed Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.
With an additional roster spot now available heading into camp, that should allow the likes of Juulsen, Egor Zamula, and Emil Andrae to remain with the club until his return. However, training camp should decide all of that with a new coaching staff at the helm.
Brière did name drop Andrae and Helge Grans as two of the more noticeable defensemen from their prospect group to watch for heading into camp. Gilbert will also be vying for an opportunity but he would really have to stick out in camp.
The Flyers will be carrying Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Nick Seeler in their top-4, leaving the bottom pair wide open, and they would more than likely be carrying an extra defenseman on the 23-man roster to start the season, giving way for 3 spots in total.
It is a blow for the team to be without one of their more trusted defensemen. Ristolainen had carved a nice niche under John Tortorella as a penalty killer and defensive defensemen. Gone are the days where Ristolainen would quarterback a power play and total 40+ points as he has switched his game up rather successfully.
Brière alluded to the idea that he would miss the first month or two of the season, perhaps pushing his return date to somewhere in November. They play 10 games in October and another 14 games in November, allowing multiple players to step in and pick up his slack until his eventual return.
It’s another season that the Flyers will have to contend with injuries from the get-go. Forward Tyson Foerster’s availability is also in the air but recent reports have it that he should be ready for the start of the season. Nevertheless, this will give the depth pieces on the team a chance to stake their claim in the first couple of months in the new season.
