Flyers sign Rasmus Ristolainen to five-year extension

The Philadelphia Flyers have extended defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on a five-year contract with a $5.1-million AAV, according to Darren Dreger.

The extension comes in the final year of Ristolainen’s current contract, a six-year deal with a $5.4-million AAV, originally signed with the Buffalo Sabres.

The contract has a mirrored salary structure, as Ristolainen will be making $4, $5.5, $6.5, $5.5, and $4 million in each year.

Ristolainen is in the midst of arguably his worst season, as he’s struggled with just 13 points in 49 games, including none on the power play, a place he’s been known to be productive. Defensively, he’s put up some of the better numbers in his career this season, although with a 46.69% CF% and 46.74% xGF% at 5-on-5, it’s still not very good.

Dreger also reported that it might mean the Flyers look into dealing Travis Sanheim, a defenseman who’s putting up better numbers offensively with 20 points in 54 games, and defensively with a 48.03% CF% and 49.14%, which is actually a career worst for him.

Ristolainen joined the Flyers this season after getting traded there from Buffalo for a first-round pick, which was used to select Isak Rosen, a second-round pick in 2023, and blueliner Robert Hagg.