Flyers activate Rasmus Ristolainen off injured reserve

It’s been a start of early struggles for the Philadelphia Flyers since the puck dropped on the 2026-27 NHL regular season, but they’re set to get a little bit healthier as defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen nears his return to the lineup. 

On Saturday morning, the Flyers activated Ristolainen from injured reserve, making him eligible to return from a nine-game injured absence for Saturday’s home matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. In a corresponding move, the hockey club assigned winger Garrett Wilson to their AHL team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. 

The 31-year-old’s absence stems from a hand injury he sustained three weeks ago, after he started the season with a single goal in his first three games. According to Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia, his status for Saturday remains a game-time decision.

If the Finnish defenseman can’t lace up on Saturday, his next chance to return to the Flyers’ lineup would come Tuesday, when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, with the struggles the team has had as the only Eastern Conference team with a worse-than -10 goal differential, any help on the back end would be sorely welcome. 

Injuries are not new for Ristolainen either, having only reached the 70-game mark once since joining the Flyers in 2021, and appearing unlikely to hit the mark this season, considering the significant absence early in the schedule. 

The Flyers currently sit second-last in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-6-3 record, ahead of only one team: their upcoming opponent, the Blue Jackets. Yet, they’re looking to extend their strong form Saturday, seeking a fourth straight victory after recent wins against the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres. 

After a two-game home stand against the Ducks and Blue Jackets, the Flyers will embark on a brief one-game road trip to face the Washington Capitals on the back end of a back-to-back on Wednesday.