Flyers activate Rasmus Ristolainen off injured reserve

Ristolainen, 32, has missed Philadelphia’s last seven games since he re-aggravated a hand injury in a 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on October 24. He was out for a nine-game stretch with the same injury earlier in the season.

In just four games played this season, the Finnish national has a goal and no assists while averaging just under 17 and a half minutes of ice time. Last season, he played in only 44 games due in large part to a triceps surgery he underwent in the preceding offseason, notching a goal and 13 assists for 14 points while averaging just under 21 and a half minutes of ice time. He then contributed a goal and four assists for five points in 10 playoff games. He also played for the bronze medal-winning Finnish men’s national team at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February, registering no goals and three assists in six games.

Selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Ristolainen played eight seasons in Buffalo before getting traded to Philadelphia in exchange for defenseman Robert Hagg and two draft picks in July of 2021.

Ristolainen is in his sixth season with Philadelphia, and the final season of a five-year, $25.5 million contract.

With 15 points through 20 games, the Flyers sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, though they’ve played four more games than the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, who are each just one point behind Philadelphia.

The Flyers will visit the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, before wrapping up a five-game road trip against the Blue Jackets on Saturday.