The Philadelphia Flyers appear to soon be getting a major boost on the blue line.
Defenseman Cam York, who missed the Flyers’ first two games of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, was wearing a regular sweater at morning skate Monday morning ahead of the club’s home opener. He reportedly skated with Egor Zamula — expected to be a healthy scratch Monday night — during drills, so York likely will have to wait until at least Thursday to make his regular-season debut.
York, 24, is coming off a disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw him log a measly 17 points in 66 games. He also struggled to coexist with former Flyers head coach John Tortorella, who was fired soon after reportedly getting into an altercation with York during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in March.
However, new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet took a liking to York’s game during training camp.
“I’ve really liked [York]’s game out there,” Tocchet told the media last month. “Hopefully he’s a guy who could carry his own pair. That’s what we’re looking for, a guy like him.”
York has developed into a solid defender on the blue line, though he was considered more of an offensive defenseman before the Flyers selected him in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. But while his offensive prowess has yet to fully translate to the NHL, his presence would certainly give the Flyers’ attack more juice, especially if he sees time on the power play.
“I really like his offense up at the blue line. I think there’s something there,” Tocchet said during training camp. “I saw it at the World Juniors. I think he ran the power play at the top. Is there a spot there that he could maybe play the power play? Maybe. Because I want to see that.”
The Flyers also recalled defenseman Emil Andrae, who surprisingly did not make the initial roster out of training camp, from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Andrae, while small, is another young blueliner with the ability to contribute offensively, both at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
With York and Andrae now back in the fold, the Flyers’ depth on the blue line is in a much better place than it was even a couple days ago.
