When the Flyers traded for Rasmus Ristolainen, pulling him out of Buffalo after his eight playoff-less seasons with the Sabres, they believed he would be better suited in their environment.
That a deeper defensive group and greater stability would translate to a more effective bruiser.
And that it would translate to the desired winning for both parties.
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"I think anytime players are slotted in the right role with the right mix of players around them, they have a much better chance to improve and look better," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said last July after acquiring Ristolainen.
The Flyers haven't followed through on their environment being better. This season, they've had two head coaches, five assistant coaches and have had to play 10 different defensemen. They entered Thursday well out of the playoff picture at 18-28-10, with a minus-52 goal differential and set to aggressively retool at the March 21 trade deadline.
Ristolainen is staying put after inking a five-year, $25.5 million contract extension Thursday morning.
"I love the city, I love the fan base, very passionate. And I love my teammates," Ristolainen said. "I really enjoy my time here and I believe we can turn it around here real quick.
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"I believe in the pieces we have here and here for next year. It's a pretty good core. Obviously some changes will happen and we'll see, but I trust the guys I share the locker room with."
It's a fine deal for the Flyers. There's no reason why Ristolainen can't play an important role in a balanced defensive group. His new deal has a cheaper average annual value ($5.1 million) than his current contract ($5.4 million). He's only 27 years old and provides qualities the Flyers have needed and playoff teams covet.
"Everything about the Flyers' history, the players who played here, just the logo and the jersey and everything around it, I really like it," Ristolainen said. "I want to keep putting that jersey on and play for the city and the fans."
But whether the deal pays off for the Flyers will hinge on what the club does to slot Ristolainen — and what he does and doesn't do well — properly.
The chances of the Flyers successfully doing that could rely heavily on the health of top-pair defenseman Ryan Ellis. Fletcher's biggest acquisition from a busy offseason last summer played only four games this season because of a troubling lower-body injury.
"One player shouldn't be enough to sink our team, but Ryan Ellis is an elite puck mover, he’s elite in transition, he would allow us to put everybody in the right chair," Fletcher said in late November.
Time will tell what and how much Fletcher does to retool the club. Can Ristolainen serve the Flyers well as a solid No. 3 or 4 alongside Travis Sanheim? Absolutely.
But Fletcher and the Flyers have to hold up their end of the bargain for why they liked Ristolainen being here in the first place. And that's to make sure their defense is deep enough and the winning ingredients are in place.
The environment they initially touted.
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