As the second week of NHL Free Agency got underway, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere took care of the last real item of pressing business in signing restricted free agent defenseman Cam York to a five year, $25.75 million contract extension.
Chris Maher of Maher Media reported the deal first, followed by Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirming it on Monday morning.
The 24 year old York was the Flyers final restricted free agent that they needed to sign this offseason, following right winger Tyson Foerster, defenseman Helge Grans, and center Noah Cates who all re-signed in late May and early June.
There was somewhat of an indication that York’s extension was near, following salary arbitration deadlines on Saturday and Sunday for the player and club, respectively.
Sure enough, things came together by early Monday, following an initial slow process.
“I’m extremely proud to call Philly my home and I’m proud to be a Flyer,” York said in a statement following the deal’s announcement. “It is a true privilege to wear the Flyers crest and I will give everything I have to my teammates and this city to help us win.”
“I believe in this team and I love the direction we are heading. I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”
York’s extension carries an annual average value of $5.15 million per season, ensuring he remains part of the team’s long term plans, as they enter the first season under new head coach Rick Tocchet. The contract did not include any trade protection, which was something that could;ve come into play in the final two years of the deal
“We are very happy to have Cam under contract for the next five years and be a main piece on our blueline,” Briere said in a statement released by the team. “Cam has been a workhorse for our team the last few seasons. We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”
On it’s face, the deal reads favorably for the Flyers, especially when considering a rising salary cap in the coming years, the cost on “top-four” level defensemen will only rise.
But the reason for the favorable number is due to York having what would be described as a down season, punctuated by a strained relationship with former head coach John Tortorella.
The 14th pick of the 2019 draft, he had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and a minus eight in 66 games last season after playing in all 82 games the previous season.
Under Tocchet, it will be interesting to see how York will be able to rebound from it. How he will be deployed and whether he can become a power-play or penalty killing fixture under the new coaching staff remains a question.
“I didn’t play to the level that I think I can play, and I think that was the most frustrating thing to me,” York said to reporters in April at his season-ending press conference. “You can say all you want about me and the coach, but at the end of the day, I didn’t do my part and didn’t play good enough in my end.”
So now the expectations are for York to be a key part of the future of the Flyers blueline, alongside Travis Sanheim who has the highest cap hit among team defensemen with a $6.25 milion AAV.
At his best, York is a two way threat on the blueline with his ability to move himself and the puck up the ice quickly and has proven an effective partner to Sanheim as a shutdown pairing.
Even with pedestrian numbers last season, York still averaged over 20 minutes a night and if his play improves under Tocchet and new assistant coach Todd Reirden, that could make the contract look even better over time.
Are the Flyers done shopping for the summer?
With York signed, the Flyers were able to take care of much of their required off-season lineup essentials, starting with their trade with the Anaheim Ducks for Trevor Zegras prior to the NHL Draft.
Briere continued filling in his offseason checklist when he signed former Montreal Canadiens center Christian Dvorak on a one-year, $5.4 million contract to replace the outgoing Ryan Poehling as a reliable two-way checking pivot, and solidified their goaltending tandem by bringing in Daniel Vladar from the Calgary Flames to a two year contract with a $3.35 million AAV.
While it would appear that the Flyers might be done their shopping, Briere might still be on the lookout for left shooting defensemen even after York’s re-signing.
The Flyers current blueline structure carries a number of defensemen who play on the right side, including Sanheim (when he is paired with York), Rasmus Ristolainen, and Jamie Drysdale.
On the left side, the Flyers have York, Nick Seeler, and Egor Zamula, who like York also had a down season. Even recent additions like Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert project more as depth defensemen, while recent first round pick Oliver Bonk and project defensemen Hunter McDonald will need seasoning in the AHL.
Certainly it would seem easier said than done, but the possibility of trades or potential offer sheets still hover as the month of July continues.
The Flyers are currently only $370,238 under the cap, that does include goalie Ivan Fedotov’s $3.275 million AAV and he is expected to be waived and likely sent to the AHL, which would give the Flyers more space for potential further maneuvers.
If Briere chooses to pursue further opportunities this summer, he has the ability to do so. It’s just not necessarily pressing that he has to do so now that York is in the fold for the foreseeable future.
