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On Friday, the Philadelphia Flyers found out they have another Olympian on their team.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was named to Team Finland’s roster, joining teammates Travis Sanheim (Canada) and Rodrigo Abols (Latvia) in Milano-Cortina, Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The moment is a long time coming for Ristolainen, but was no guarantee. After all, the Finn just returned from his right triceps surgery recovery eight games ago, with two assists to his credit.
“Since the injury happened earlier, I had a date circled on the calendar to return (prior to the Olympic selections) and I was hoping to get some games in,” Ristolainen said. “Rehab went well and I am healthy, so it means alot to be named.”
In addition, there was definite urgency on Ristolainen’s part to get back in time, especially after he missed the 4 Nations Faceoff last season.
“It’s obviously very special, as the last two Olympics the NHL didn’t go and obviously you don’t know what might happen in four years. It could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Coincidentally, the last time Ristolainen played for his home country was the 2014 World Junior Championship. It was a memorable moment as he scored the gold medal winning goal.
Looking Forward To “Playoff-Type” Games
Beyond the injury recovery, it’s a testament to how well he has reshaped his game during his time in Philadelphia. He was known for big open-ice hits, but was frequently played himself out of position when he first arrived following his trade from Buffalo.
Under former assistant coach Brad Shaw, he learned to better read plays in front of him. As a result, he was able to better leverage his size and range in the neutral and defensive zones. Quite frankly, without that transformation in his game, he might not have been considered.
Now, the 6’4, 208lb defenseman is well aware of the stakes and the intensity of the upcoming tournament. As with Sanheim’s selection, Ristolainen’s size and physicality should play well on the smaller, but wider ice in Milan.
“I do believe it’s kind of like the playoff-type games, so I kind of think that’s kind of made for me.”
Ristolainen will find out for himself when Finland plays their first game in Italy on February 11. While the Finns won’t have Florida captain Aleksander Barkov, they have historically been a “tough out” for any opponent.
Flyers Prospects On The Move At WHL Trade Deadline
On Friday, the Western Hockey League Trade Deadline saw two Flyers prospects (and Red Deer Rebels teammates) dealt.
First to be traded was 2025 fifth round pick Luke Vlooswyk, as the 6’4, 200lb defenseman (along with a 2027 WHL fifth round pick) was sent to the Everett Silvertips. Coming back to the Rebels were forward Cole Temple and defenseman Cameron Dillard.
An hour later, center Matthew Gard was traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds for forward Cameron Kuzma and three draft picks. Gard was one of four players the Flyers picked in the second round of this year’s Draft.
In Vlooswyk’s case, he is being sent to the best team in the WHL as the Silvertips currently lead the US Division. He had six assists, 26 penalty minutes, and was a plus six in 32 games this season. He has scored four goals and 21 assists over 108 career games played since his debut with Red Deer in 2022.
“We’re excited to add Luke to our team,” Everett general manager Mike Fraser said. “He’s a steady right-shot defenseman with a long reach who brings a physical presence.”
Gard With A New Opportunity After Bumpy Start To Season
Gard, on the other hand, heads to a Seattle team that is currently sitting in fourth place in the same division. After a good second season with the Rebels, he has six goals and 11 points in 23 games in 2025-26. He missed the early part of the season with an upper body injury. The hope is that the 6’5, 197lb center will give the Thunderbirds a boost.
“We’re getting a big center who plays the right way, plays our style of hockey,” said Seattle general manager Bill LaForge. “When the opportunity came up, it was a move we jumped on. We’ve been stockpiling these picks and it was a good opportunity to use them.”
Flyers-Oilers Preview & More On Edmonton Sports Talk
On Friday, I hopped on Edmonton Sports Talk’s Afternoon Show with Hernan Salas and Joaquin Gage. We discussed the Flyers’ progress this season, as they take on the Oilers on Saturday at 3:30pm EST. We also dug into the US and Canadian Olympic Team Roster Selections and Snubs.
Have a watch (our segment begins at 1:23):
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