Jamie Drysdale is the newest member of the Philadelphia Flyers after Cutter Gauthier made it known that he would not sign for them, and then promptly got shipped off to the Anaheim Ducks.
While it might be pre-determined that the young defenseman isn’t coming into a great situation — with the pressure of being the player that the team acquired in exchange for one of the team’s best prospect who essentially gave the team a giant middle finger — Drysdale is handling everything extremely well. And on top of that, appears to be more than excited to get going at his new home.
In his first media availability, roughly 18 hours after actually being traded and already after a 5:45 a.m. flight to Philadelphia and a first practice with his new team, the 21-year-old blueliner was asked how he might handle being coached by John Tortorella and if he is worried about anything, considering his reputation as a coach.
Drysdale quickly shot down any notion that he is worried or that Tortorella has that reputation at all.
“Obviously, everyone has heard whatever you hear in the media and stuff, but in terms of players, I’ve only heard good things,” Drysdale said. “Like, people that have actually played for him; I’ve only heard good things. In terms of people that have reached out to me, they said he is a very honest guy, black and white, you’re never wondering where you’re at with him, shoots you straight — I feel like that’s all us players can ask for. It’s just to make you better at the end of the day. Yeah, I’m excited to play for him and learn from him.”
Beyond the actual tactics of a team coached by Tortorella — which should theoretically really help Drysdale up his two-way game and make him an impactful player throughout his career — the man from Toronto seems to be really looking forward to establishing himself under the coach.
The reputation that Tortorella seemingly has among actual players who have played for him, according to Drysdale, could not be higher. Some people, like most hockey players apparently, truly appreciate how honest him as their head coach can be. No beating around the bush and no second-guessing.
Drysdale went on to react to the trade itself.
The Ducks clearly have plenty of talent coming through their system and some real key blueliners like Pavel Mintyukov this year and potentially Olen Zellweger in the future. Drysdale said that the writing was on the wall that a move could have potentially been made.
“Yeah, I don’t think it was a really big secret that someone potentially had to go, to be honest,” he said. “In the moment, it was a tough, shocking news, but sitting here now, getting in here and meeting the guys, I’m excited. I’m glad to be here.”
It’s refreshing to hear a young player that was taken in the top-six selections of a recent draft say that they want to play in Philadelphia.
