After originally being listed as a game-time decision, Ristolainen has officially been ruled out for the Flyers' season opener. In 74 games last season, Ristolainen tallied 20 points (3G / 17A) and 162 hits. Egor Zamula is expected to slot onto the third defensive pairing in his absence.
With Rasmus Ristolainen out with an undisclosed injury, Zamula will draw into the lineup for the Flyers. Zamula played 14 games with the Flyers last season, recording four assists and averaging 13:23 time-on-ice.
Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice and is beginning the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury but is a game-time decision for Philadelphia's opener Thursday vs. Columbus. If the 28-year-old defenseman is unable to go it will leave a large gap in the Flyers defensive pairings. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.
Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice but will begin the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old defensemen will miss an undisclosed amount of time leaving a large gap in the Flyers defensive unit. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.
Pelletier is expected to be out long-term after undergoing shoulder surgery. Last season he made his NHL debut, recording seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games for the Flames. In his absence, Dryden Hunt is expected to make the opening-night roster and center the 4th line for Calgary.
Drysdale missed 74 games in 2022-23 after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder but has signed a three-year deal worth $6.9 million ($2.3M AAV) with Anaheim. The 21-year-old was limited to only eight games last season and failed to pick up a point while posting a -3 plus/minus with two PIMs. He was Anaheim's 2020 first-round pick (6th overall) and has seven goals, 40 points, 24 PIMs and a -41 plus/minus through 113 games played across three NHL seasons.
Pelletier injured his left shoulder during a Flames pre-season game, and he will undergo surgery next week. Pelletier split his 2023 season between the AHL and NHL, picking up seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games with the Flames. He was poised to fill a middle-6 role with the Flames this season, but that will no longer be the case.
Bjarnason was Philadelphia's 2023 second-round pick (51st overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $2,850,000 ($950,000 AAV). The 18-year-old goaltender went 21-19-5 with a .900 SV% and a 3.08 GAA with Brandon (WHL) in 2022-23. He also represented Canada at the Under-18 World Championships this offseason where he led the squad with a 4-2-0 record, .849 SV% and 3.51 GAA.
Bonk was drafted by Philadelphia in the 1st round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft (22nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers worth $950,000 AAV. The 18-year-old son of NHL legend Radek Bonk, had 10 goals, 30 assists, 38 PIMs, and a +17 plus/minus through 67 games with London (OHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to London for the 2023-24 season.
Rizzo had 17 goals, 29 assists, 14 PIMs and a +24 plus/minus through 38 games with the University of Denver (NCAA) in 2022-23 and has had his rights traded alongside a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for the rights to David Kase. The 22-year-old centre has improved his prospect status exponentially after being drafted in the seventh-round of the 2019 NHL Draft (216th overall) by the Flyers.
Kase had six goals, eight assists, eight PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 25 games with HC Sparta Praha (Czechia) in 2022-23 and has had his rights traded to Philadelphia for the rights to Massimo Rizzo and a 2025 fifth-round pick. The 26-year-old Czech forward last played in the NHL for the Flyers in 2020-21 where he only played one game but he has a goal and five SOG through seven career NHL games in two seasons.
Ersson was 6-3-0 with a .899 SV% and 3.07 GAA in his first NHL season in 2022-23 and signed a two-year, $2.9 million contract extension ($1,450,000 AAV) with the Flyers. The 23-year-old netminder was Philadelphia's 2018 fifth-round pick (143rd overall) and made his NHL debut in 2022-23. He will be expected to spend the entire season with the Flyers in 2023-24.
Thompson announced Thursday that he is bringing an end to his 15-year NHL career which ends with 65 goals, 99 assists, 906 SOG, 401 PIMs and a -67 plus/minus through 844 games played. The 28-year-old was drafted by Boston in the sixth-round of the 2003 NHL Draft (183rd overall) and represented 10 NHL teams throughout his career.
York had two goals, 18 assists, 42 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 54 games in 2022-23 with Philadelphia and has signed a two-year, $2.6 million extension ($1,300,000 AAV). The 22-year-old defender was Philadelphia's 2019 first-round pick (14th overall) and has five goals, 25 assists, and 76 SOG throughout his 87 career NHL games in three seasons.
Cates had 13 goals, 25 assists, 107 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 82 games with his first full season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract extension ($2,625,000 AAV) after reaching an agreement pre arbitration. The 24-year-old was Philadelphia's 2017 fifth-round pick (137th overall) and has 18 goals and 47 points across 98 career games.
Gleason had nine goals, 24 assists, 40 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 68 games with Texas (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $1.550 Million contract ($775,000) with Edmonton. The 25-year-old undrafted offensive defensemen's only appearance in the NHL was in 2018-19 with Dallas, where he had an assist, two SOG and a -1 plus/minus.
Hathaway had 13 goals, nine assists, 88 SOG, 69 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 74 games played with both Boston and Washington in 2022-23 and has agreed to a two-year contract worth $4.75 million ($2.375M AAV) with Philadelphia. The 31-year-old right winger is set to join his fourth NHL team, bringing 58 goals and 122 points through 457 career games played.
Richard has bounced around AHL teams in recent years, playing for Milwaukee, Chicago, Syracuse and Laval since 2020. This year he'll likely start the season and spend most of the year in Providence. He led the Laval Rocket in goals (30), assists (37) and points (67) last year.
Gardner had 10 goals, 30 assists, 75 PIMs and a +26 plus/minus through 71 games with Texas (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV). The 27-year-old left-winger last played in the NHL in 2021-22 with Dallas, and has a goal and an assist across 40 career NHL games.
Poehling had seven goals, seven assists, 64 SOG, eight PIMS and a -2 plus/minus through 53 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million with Philadelphia. The 24-year-old centre was selected in the first-round of the 2017 draft by Montreal (25th overall) and has scored 20 goals and 36 points in 138 career NHL games played.
