The Flyers and restricted free agent defenseman Cameron York have agreed to phrases on a five-year contract value $25.75M, experiences Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The deal carries a cap hit of $5.15M and takes up two UFA years, which means he can take a look at the open market upon expiry in 2030.
York, the No. 14 decide within the 2019 draft, is coming off his fifth season with Philadelphia, the final three of which have been spent as a full-time NHLer. Since starting to play an everyday function on the blue line within the 2022-23 season, York has scored 16 objectives, 51 assists and 67 factors in 21:13 of ice time per night time throughout 202 video games, with a -22 ranking and 369 blocks.
There was loads of hypothesis final season that York could also be a commerce candidate, primarily on account of a rocky relationship with former head coach John Tortorella. The pair reportedly had a verbal altercation close to the top of the 12 months, which resulted in Tortorella’s dismissal and York sitting on the bench for everything of interim head coach Brad Shaw’s first sport on the helm to shut out the marketing campaign.
It appeared all was forgiven when experiences indicated the 2 sides have been shut on a deal, constructing on preliminary extension talks that passed off final fall. With a brand new coach on the helm in Rick Tocchet, the Flyers land a long-term dedication from York at a marginal low cost on his market worth.
AFP Analytics projected a long-term extension for York to be a five-year deal at roughly $5.75M per season. That’s shrewd work from normal supervisor Daniel Brière to work rapidly to take away a proposal sheet menace whereas locking him in round 10 % cheaper than anticipated.
The Flyers will technically be over the cap by roughly $580K with a full roster after registering York’s contract, though that shouldn’t be trigger for concern. Retired defenseman Ryan Ellis’ $6.25M cap hit might be positioned on long-term injured reserve for everything of the season. On the identical time, winger Tyson Foerster and his $3.75M cap hit may additionally land on LTIR to start the 12 months whereas he recovers from an an infection in his elbow. Excessive-paid defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen additionally isn’t anticipated to be prepared to start the season. Philadelphia has time on its aspect to shed wage if want be – a transfer that may very well be so simple as waiving and reassigning third-string goaltender Ivan Fedotov, bringing his $3.275M cap hit right down to $2.125M.
York will reprise his top-pairing function whereas fellow lefty Travis Sanheim mans the suitable aspect. He needs to be ticketed for a bump in ice time if Tocchet restores a few of his power-play minutes. The 24-year-old noticed underneath 10 minutes in whole on the person benefit final season after taking part in an everyday function there in 2023-24. That ought to assist his offensive numbers as properly. He had 30 factors in 82 video games two years in the past earlier than posting 17 in 66 final season.
He and Sanheim will headline the Flyers’ defensive unit subsequent season whereas being supported by veterans Ristolainen and Nick Seeler, some up-and-comers in Emil Andrae, Jamie Drysdale, and Egor Zamula, whereas additionally being complemented by depth free agent pickups Dennis Gilbert and Noah Juulsen.
