When head coach John Tortorella left at the end of last season, Cam York’s play left a lot of questions for the Philadelphia Flyers. Since he was drafted 14th overall in 2019, there has been a lot of pressure placed upon his shoulders to become a key piece of an improved Flyers defense. Between being selected around marquee names like Cole Caufield, Matt Boldy, his new teammate Trevor Zegras, and being frozen out by his old coach John Tortorella, York’s future in Philadelphia seemed like it may have been trending towards uncertainty.
But with his strong start to the season, York has solidified not only his spot within the Flyers future, but secured his role as the foil to Travis Sanheim on the top pair of a defense corps that has been surprisingly effective.
Throughout his time in Philadelphia, York has been a defender who sometimes fails to be noticed. There weren’t many moments where he would stand out as a negative, but equally, up until this year, he wasn’t much of a difference maker either. His average frame made it so he was never going to be a bruising physical presence, but at the same time, he also was never tipped to be a Quinn Hughes-level offensive superstar. The best version of York was always going to be the one who could do a little bit of everything; play a little bit of power play, some penalty kill, and be a stout 5-on-5 defender. But a complete game is a lot to ask of a young player, especially when you’re talking about a defenseman who didn’t necessarily have a great ecosystem around him to develop in.
But after he recovered from the lower-body injury that delayed the start of his season, York came out of the gates looking like a truly confident, top-pair defender. Instead of just looking like Travis Sanheim’s partner, York has looked like a player who can stand on his own regardless of who is beside him. His assertiveness on offense has been a revelation thus far, and under Tocchet it seems as if York has felt more free to really let his game flourish.
This recent assist against Nashville showcases that comfort.
Not every defenseman can walk down the wall and make that sort of pinpoint pass under duress, right on the tape. These sorts of plays have become more and more routine for York, and it’s all happening without a meaningful decline in his defensive play. Despite playing the hardest minutes against the opposition’s best players, York’s defensive analytics show that when he is on the ice, the Flyers don’t give up high danger chances. The net front area is always clear, in spite of him and Sanheim not necessarily being the most physically imposing, and they rarely allow opponents to pick up rebounds in front.
York’s 5V5 defensive shot map, courtesy of HockeyViz
But the most noticeable and easily observable change in York’s game is his raw production. After a season last year where he scored just 17 points in 66 games, York has already put up nine points in his 12 games, starting his season on what would be a 60+ point pace over 82 games. Obviously, that shouldn’t be the new expectation, but for a player who has never eclipsed 30 points in the NHL, it is a welcome sight. There was always more offensive potential in York, and it seems as if the new coaching situation and systems are allowing him more freedom to play on the front foot.
Coach Rick Tocchet confirmed as much in his post-practice media availability on November 7. When asked if he was looking for more offensive play from York, Tocchet heaped praise on the 24-year old, even referencing a certain Vancouver Canuck.
“I want him to be aggressive”, Tocchet said. “Obviously you have to be calculated, but those are the things that I notice.
“I’m not going to compare him to Quinn Hughes, but that ‘hey, I want the puck, put it in my hands and I’m gonna try to make a play’, I saw that last night from him”.
It would have been understandable if York had a bit of a slow start after missing the lion’s share of training camp and the preseason, he had all the excuses lined up to not come out and be his normal self. Instead, York has looked better than ever, and if he continues on this trajectory, the Flyers could have their first pair locked up at a very reasonable cost for the foreseeable future. And for York in particular, it feels as if he is finally comfortable in the role he was somewhat forced into at a young age. It looks as if he is more comfortable taking risks and playing at his own pace, and there’s no signs of his breakout season stopping any time soon.
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