Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has learned that Ristolainen will be out due to injury and not trade-related reasons.
Ristolainen has 15 points (two goals and 13 assists) in 54 games this season and is averaging 20:31 in ice time.
The 30-year-old from Turku, Finland, is signed through the 2026-27 season but could be a trade candidate ahead of next month’s deadline with the Flyers (23-26-7) sitting in last place in the Metropolitan Division and amid a five-game losing streak.
Saturday’s game is the Flyers’ last before the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, with Ristolainen’s status for Team Finland now TBD.
Finland will already be missing defencemen Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpää due to injuries. Henri Jokiharju and Urho Vaakanainen were named as their replacements last Sunday.
Forward Mikko Rantanen is also TBD for the tournament as he’s out of the Carolina Hurricanes’ lineup Saturday due to a lower-body injury.
Finland begins play Thursday against the United States.
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