Some people - including the Flyers- still like him. But if and when he's ultimately traded it will obviously be for very little, with the Flyers picking up $. He's probably the one who stays this year, assuming Atkinson is healthy enough to get moved but also because the coach seemingly wants him.
Here's Torts and Charlie O'Connor on him at the end of the season:
āI think with a number of our players that I think improved tremendously, I think the past few weeks, weāve kind of leveled. I donāt want it to sound negative. But I think thatās where weāre at right now. I think one of the biggest improvements Risto made ā and it was a simple one ā itās just his legs, just moving his legs. Heās protected the pucks well, wheeled out of corners well by using his legs. Not gonna say we kept on going this way with him, but I think weāve leveled out a little bit. And quite honestly, as you know where youāre at, and thereās no prize at the end here, it happens that way, sometimes.
āI just think he has so much length. I just think he takes up so much space. Itās not so much the offense ā and I know we had some offensive numbers early (in his career) ā I want him to play defense. Thatās first. My number one concern is playing better in front of our goalie and I think heās done that.ā ā April 6
Subjective interpretation: Tortorella pretty clearly sees Ristolainenās path to long-term usefulness as a defense-centric blueliner in the prime Justin Braun mold. Heās very satisfied with Ristolainenās progression in that area, particularly from where he was at the start of the season to now, even if that upward trajectory stalled out a bit as the year came to a close.
