Rasmus Ristolainen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rasmus Ristolainen |
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Ristolainen with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
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| Born | 27 October 1994 Turku, Finland |
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| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Philadelphia Flyers TPS Buffalo Sabres |
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| National team |  Finland |
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| NHL Draft | 8th overall, 2013 Buffalo Sabres |
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| Playing career | 2011–present | ||
Rasmus Ristolainen (born 27 October 1994) is a professional ice hockey player from Finland. He plays as a defenceman for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was chosen as the eighth overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL entry draft.
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Rasmus Ristolainen: An Ice Hockey Star
Rasmus Ristolainen is known for his strong defensive play and powerful shots. He has played for two different teams in the NHL. He also proudly represents his home country, Finland, in international competitions.
Starting His NHL Journey
Rasmus Ristolainen began his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres. His very first game was on 2 October 2013, against the Detroit Red Wings. This was the opening night of the 2013–14 season.
He scored his first NHL goal on 25 October. This goal helped the Sabres win 3–1 against the Florida Panthers. Later, on 10 December 2015, he achieved a special milestone. He scored his first NHL hat-trick (three goals in one game). This happened in a game they lost 4–3 to the Calgary Flames. He was the first Sabres defenceman to score a hat-trick since Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Housley did it in the 1987–88 season.
Playing for the Sabres
During his time with the Buffalo Sabres, Ristolainen was a key player on their defence. He was known for his physical style of play. On 21 March 2017, he made a check on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel. The league decided to suspend Ristolainen for three games because of this play.
Moving to the Philadelphia Flyers
On 23 July 2021, Rasmus Ristolainen was traded from the Sabres to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers gave up player Robert Hägg and two draft picks for him. These picks included a first-round pick in the 2021 draft and a second-round pick in the 2023 draft. On 10 March 2022, he signed a new five-year contract with the Flyers. This showed that the team wanted him to be a big part of their future.
International Success
Rasmus Ristolainen has also had great success playing for his country, Finland. On 5 January 2014, he scored the winning goal in overtime. This goal secured the gold medal for Finland at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. They beat Sweden, who had been undefeated in the tournament.
| Medal record | ||
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Representing Finland |
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| World Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 2014 Malmö | |
See also
In Spanish: Rasmus Ristolainen para niños
