May 7: York has been elevated from the taxi squad to the active roster as expected. He will wear No. 45 and make his NHL debut this evening.
May 6: The Philadelphia Flyers may not have much to play for over the last few days, but don’t tell Cam York that. The 20-year-old defenseman has been recalled to the taxi squad and is expected to make his NHL debut on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The team recalled goaltender Felix Sandstrom to the taxi squad as well, meaning another NHL debut could be in the works.
York was the 14th overall pick in 2019 and is coming off an outstanding season with the University of Michigan, where he tallied 20 points in 24 games. There was no slowing him down in the AHL, where he immediately found success with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring five points in six games and earning the call-up. There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to York, who will quarterback the second powerplay unit on Friday as well.
An offensive threat every time he touches the puck, York will still need some time before he becomes a top option for the Flyers. Still, he’ll get a chance to dip his toe into the NHL waters here with an eye on cracking the roster out of 2021-22 training camp. With Shayne Gostisbehere suspended for his hit the other night, there is lots of opportunity for York to show what he can do over the last few games.
Sandstrom meanwhile is an interesting prospect in his own right, selected 70th overall in 2015. The Swedish goaltender played in the SHL through the 2018-19 season and spent last year in the ECHL acclimating to the North American game. This year, in nine appearances for Lehigh Valley, he has an .897 save percentage and 3.45 goals-against average. Now 24, Sandstrom is a restricted free agent this summer.
Tom Wilson will introduce Cam York to the NHL and the NHL will suspend York for retaliation.
@mario crosby – Damn you, Nostradamus! I wanted to predict that! (I’ll add the five-game suspension for York)
;)
If you read any of the Capitals fan sites like on SB Nation then you would think Tom Wilson is an unfair target of blame and the true victim and all his victims deserved it. If York tries messing with him he should get 10 games not only for fighting, but for bullying such a gentle giant.
I hope York does well in Philly, because the Flyers taking him over Caufield is going to hang over him (unfairly) if he doesn’t pan out as a top pairing Dman.
@Gbear – At least Carter Hart is there (for the time being) to help him get through that, as best as possible. I don’t envy either of them, though.