Rasmus Ristolainen played eight years in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres trade Rasmus Ristolainen, get huge return from Flyers

Rasmus Ristolainen’s eight-year career with the Buffalo Sabres is over.

The Sabres this afternoon traded the Finnish defenseman to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for the 14th overall pick in tonight’s NHL Draft, a 2023 second-round selection and defenseman Robert Hagg.

Ristolainen, 26, has just one year left on his contract. He often voiced his frustration with the constant losing he has endured over his NHL career. Following last season, he said he was open to be traded or returning to Buffalo.

The 6-foot-4, 221-pound Ristolainen has compiled 46 goals, 245 points, 291 penalty minutes and a minus-163 rating in 542 career NHL games.

Thee Sabres drafted Ristolainen eighth overall in 2013.

In Hagg, 26, the Sabres possess a 6-foot-2, 204-pound left-handed shot. The Swede has registered 13 goals, 47 points, 143 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating in 236 career NHL outings.

The Flyers drafted Hagg in the second round in 2013, 41st overall. He has one season remaining on his two-year, $3.2 million contract.

With Ristolainen and Will Borgen gone – he was taken by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft – the Sabres needed to add another defenseman. They could also lose defenseman Jake McCabe in free agency next week.

Stay tuned for updates. The Sabres, who also have the first overall pick tonight, are expected to be busy.

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