Flyers' Ristolainen will likely miss start of next season after arm surgery

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss the beginning of the 2025-26 season after undergoing arm surgery, general manager Daniel Briere announced Saturday.

"Right after the trade deadline he had to get checked, and they figured out he needed to go under the knife for another surgery on his arm," Briere said. "So he's going to be out until probably the early parts of next season, unfortunately."

It's a very similar injury to the one Ristolainen had a year earlier, Briere added.

Ristolainen recorded 19 points in 63 games in 2024-25. He finished third among Flyers defensemen in average time on ice (20:31).

The 30-year-old is under contract for two more seasons with a $5.1-million cap hit.