Previously, we determined that the Flyers have a big question mark in the net this season, albeit with a side of hope and upside.
Let’s look at the Flyers Defensive pairings as we head towards training camp.
The Top Billing
The expected top pairing of Travis Sanheim and Cam York needs no introduction.
Travis Sanheim
Sanheim inked a long-term deal with the Flyers in 2022, and he carries a $6.25MM cap hit through the 2031 season. In 81 games last year, Sanheim netted 10 goals and 44 points, along with a -20 plus/minus. With Sanheim assuming the proverbial #1 Defenseman mantle last year, he had a solid jump from 23 points in 81 games the prior year.
Sanheim’s ice time was up nearly 3 minutes per game; however, he had the same time on ice in 2021-22 when he posted 13 fewer points in 80 games. Therefore, his additional production is not simply the added ice time. Sanheim showed poise and character last year, playing with a chip on his shoulder but ready to prove the Flyers were right not to have traded him before his No Trade Clause kicked in.
Cam York
York, the Flyers’ first-round Pick (#14 overall in 2019), is entering his fourth full year. He has seen his games and point totals increase yearly with the Flyers. Last year, York netted 10 goals and 20 assists in all 82 games and had a -14 plus/minus. York, who is in the final year of his contract ($1.6MM per year), will be a restricted free agent at the end of the year.
York averaged 23 minutes under Tortorella last year, so it’s unlikely that he will significantly increase his ice time this year. York will look to do more with his play when he is out there.
What’s on Second?
Jamie Drysdale & Nick Seeler
Justin Giampietro of the Hockey Writers likes Nick Seeler and Jamie Drysdale’s numbers last year. The pair posted some good numbers in their 104 minutes of even-strength time together.
Jamie Drysdale
Drysdale was a somewhat shocking pick-up in January last year, having been acquired in exchange for heralded prospect Cutter Gauthier. It was shocking that Gauthier decided he would not play for the Flyers, so they tried to find a win-win deal.
Drysdale enters the year on the second of his three-year ELC, carrying a $2.3MM cap hit. The former #6 overall pick by the Ducks in 2020 played in 24 games with the Flyers last year, where he posted 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points, a -18 plus/minus to go along with 18:48 in average ice time. Unfortunately, that’s not a stellar stat line for a #1 pick.
Before joining the Flyers, Drysdale had a goal and 4 assists in 10 games. Drysdale will look to continue to try and gel with the team. I would expect Drysdale’s ice time and comfort level to pick up this year, and the production should follow.
Nick Seeler
Seeler signed a Four-Year Contract Extension with the Flyers back in March, carrying a $2.7MM cap hit. In 71 games with the Flyers last year, Seeler put up 1 Goal and 12 assists and was a plus 9. We’ll give Seeler some credit for being a plus on the ice, averaging 16.57 minutes each night on this team. In addition, he blocked an incredible 205 shots last year, along with 161 blocked shots the previous year. Seeler, as the ‘Who’ famously said, gets his back into his living. Moreover, Seeler is a good teammate and gives his effort every shift.
The 3rd & the 7th
Rasmus Ristolainen, Egor Zamula, Erik Johnson, Adam Ginning, Emil Andre, Ronnie Attard
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen may be feeling the heat. Acquired in 2021, which cost the Flyers Robert Hagg, a 2021 1st and 2023 2nd round pick to acquire, Ristolainen, at 6’4, 221 lbs., perhaps was becoming a very popular trade candidate before injury last year. Having now played three seasons in the orange and black, he averaged 18 points with the Flyers before last year’s season, putting up only 4 points in 31 games.
Ristolainen, a former 40-point-a-season defenseman in his earlier career with Buffalo, albeit under a different playing style and ice time. If Ristolainen can form a shut-down third pair, it would significantly improve the Flyers’ chances overall. With a $5.1MM cap hit in year 3 of 5 of his contract, he no longer puts up the offensive numbers to justify that cap hit. ‘Risto’ blocked 187 shots over the last two years to go along with 218 hits over that same period. The problem with hoping he develops into a shut-down defenseman is that ‘Risto’ has never had a season where he ended up on the positive side of the plus/minus category.
Egor Zamula
Zamula, an RFA to begin the summer, signed a new 2-year contract this summer. Zamula is coming off a 66-game campaign with 5 goals and 21 points in 16 minutes of average ice time. Zamula will get an opportunity to grow on his campaign, especially following a new contract.
It’s expected that he’ll slot in as the #6 defenseman at the moment and be given a chance to see what he can do for his next act.
Erik Johnson
Acquired by the Flyers in March of last year for a 2024 4th-round pick, he posted 3 points and a -9 plus/minus in 17 games for the Flyers last year. The former 1st overall selection, Johnson began his career with the St. Louis Blues back in 2007 and had 987 games and 343 points in his 16-year career.
Johnson signed a 1-year contract with the Flyers when free agency opened on July 1st and is ‘open for any role.’
“My days of 25, 26 minutes at night are behind me,” Johnson said after signing. “I know that, and I’m comfortable with it.” Jonnson reiterated to the Flyers brass that he was committed to the team: “I told them I’d be open for any role. I’m here to help these guys on and off the ice. Whether it’s 20, 30, 40, 50 games, or whatever it is, I’m here for them, and I’m here for the Flyers, and whatever they’re going to ask of me, I’m going to do.”
“I remember being really influenced by great veterans in St. Louis, Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight, Paul Kariya, and then in Colorado, I had Adam Foote and Milan Hejduk,” Johnson said. “All those guys were at the tail end of their careers, but they really offered a lot of things off the ice that I still carry with me today.”
The Flyers hope his experience, attitude, and leadership will permeate the organization and help the younger kids develop. Johnson, for his part, appears to love the Flyers’ leadership team and the ‘great group.’
Adam Ginning
Ginning just signed a two-year extension with the Flyers in June, with an average annual value of $787.5K. In stark contrast to Erik Johnson’s experience and pedigree, Ginning has played 10 NHL games to date, 9 of which came last year. He scored a goal for his only NHL point in his early career.
While a small sample size, Ginning is an even player in the plus/minus category in his 10 games. In his AHL career, he averaged 17 points, and in his first pro year, he was a plus 24. The Flyers will likely give Ginning a look in camp to show he can lock down a regular spot, but with the log jam in front of him, he’ll likely be the first emergency call-up on D.
Emil Andrae
Emil, 22, played four games with the Flyers last year. For the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, he scored 5 goals, 27 points, and a -10 plus/minus in the regular season.
Andrae will likely be given one of the first call-up opportunities should any fill-ins be required at the NHL level.
Ronnie Attard
Attard is another prospect who will get a look during the season. He has played a total of 19 games for the Flyers over parts of three seasons. Last year in the AHL, he had 10 goals, 27 points, and a +4 plus/minus in 48 games for the Phantoms. The prior year, he posted 12 goals and 32 points in 68 games for the Phantoms.
Summary
The Flyers’ top 7 Defensemen seem fairly set going into the season, with Erik Johnson being on the record as being comfortable in any role that is needed.
Sanheim and York look to lead the Flyers on the back end, a group with much to play for.
Ristolainen finds himself in a numbers game with a big contract for declining production. There were rumors he was a candidate to be moved last year and we’ll see if that is the case this year as well.
Seeler is looking to make good on his new 4-year deal.
Zamula is looking to return the Flyers’ faith in his new deal.
Drysdale will likely be happy for some stability, having joined the team in the middle of last year and looking to prove that the Flyers made the right call.
The group is all there from #1-7.
The big question is, can they fit the pieces together to get a little more out of the whole?
PHOTO: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports
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