Flyers’ John Tortorella on Rasmus Ristolainen: ‘You guys write all this s—’

Mark down John Tortorella as a fan of Rasmus Ristolainen.

While the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman may not show up well analytically, his head coach is a fan of the other elements he provides to the game.

“You [media] guys hate him. Write all this shit,” Tortorella told reporters Monday, including team correspondent Bill Meltzer. “I shouldn’t say hate. Not the proper word to use in today’s world. I just feel he’s been under a microscope since I got here.”

Behind the Flyers bench since 2022-23, the head coach and defenseman have spent three seasons together, and all but one of Ristolainen’s four campaigns in Philadelphia. This season, the 30-year-old Finn is on pace for his best offensive showing with the Flyers, having registered one goal with 10 assists for 11 points through the team’s first 43 contests. Ristolainen also ranks third among Flyers defensemen in averaging 20:31 time on ice.

Originally chosen eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Draft, Ristolainen was acquired by former Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher during the 2021 offseason in a deal that saw Philadelphia part with first- and second-round draft choices in addition to defenseman Robert Hagg. Eight months later, the Flyers inked Ristolainen to a five-year extension that carries a $5.1-million annual average value, per PuckPedia. Ristolainen is due to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2027 offseason.

In all, Ristolainen has seen 756 career contests split between the Sabres and Flyers in which he has tallied 53 goals and 243 assists for 296 points. And despite having zero experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the veteran rearguard is considered an intriguing addition ahead of the March 7 NHL trade deadline, clocking in at No. 10 on Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets.

Whether the Flyers will be sellers ahead of the trade deadline will be determined in the coming weeks. Entering Monday’s contest against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the Flyers sit 18-20-5 on the season and five points back of the Metropolitan Division rival Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wildcard position in the Eastern Conference.