When Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale suffered an injury to his left shoulder on Sunday (the same one he injured last season), there were concerns that another long-term absence was on the horizon. However, it appears that won’t quite be the case as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the blueliner is listed as week to week with some hope that he’ll be able to return before the end of the season.
Drysdale played in just eight games last season because of his shoulder injury and injuries have limited him to just 27 appearances so far this year between Anaheim and Philadelphia. When healthy, the 2020 sixth-overall pick has been quite an effective player and when the Flyers picked him up as part of the Cutter Gauthier trade, they felt they were getting a cornerstone piece of their future.
With another absence for Drysdale, it would be fair to wonder if Philadelphia’s plans for next week’s trade deadline would be affected, particularly with the decisions they have to make on pending unrestricted blueliners Sean Walker and Nick Seeler. However, Friedman indicated in the most recent 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link) that this isn’t likely to be the case since GM Daniel Briere continues to take the big-picture view and that Drysdale’s injury, the severity of which wasn’t known at the time of the comments, wasn’t going to impact their plans. At this point, the asking price of the two veterans will be the difference-maker in whether they stay or go.
In the case of Drysdale, the fact he’s not a lock to be out for the season is certainly a positive sign. However, the news certainly could have been better as the 21-year-old now faces another absence of some length, further delaying his development and adaptation to his new team.
I feel for Drysdale as I like the player but come on, dude can’t take a regular body check without a lengthy injury
As a ducks fan, it was sad to see him go. Very likable kid, a lot of talent. With that said, great move for the ducks. He is made of glass.
I’ll take my chances with cutter even though he has his red flags. Not sure if Philadelphia handled it wrong or if it’s him and he will be disgruntled later on. Drysdale is good he just can’t stay healthy.
It’s hard to say the Flyers messed it up when no one knows why he wanted the trade and he wouldn’t talk to the team.
The hit he took on this injury was far from a “regular body check”
Drysdale already has a reputation for being injured.