9:33 a.m.: The Flyers announced York’s contract and confirmed the financial terms as reported.
7:48 a.m.: The Flyers and restricted free agent defenseman Cameron York have agreed to terms on a five-year contract worth $25.75MM, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The deal carries a cap hit of $5.15MM and takes up two UFA years, meaning he can test the open market upon expiry in 2030. Those seasons do not include trade protection, according to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.
York, the No. 14 pick in the 2019 draft, is coming off his fifth season with Philadelphia, the last three of which have been spent as a full-time NHLer. Since beginning to play a regular role on the blue line in the 2022-23 season, York has scored 16 goals, 51 assists, and 67 points in 21:13 of ice time per night across 202 games, with a -22 rating and 369 blocks.
There was plenty of speculation during last season that York may be a trade candidate, primarily due to a rocky relationship with former head coach John Tortorella. The pair reportedly had a verbal altercation near the end of the year, which resulted in Tortorella’s dismissal and York sitting on the bench for the entirety of interim head coach Brad Shaw’s first game at the helm to close out the campaign.
It appeared all was forgiven when reports last month indicated the two sides were close on a deal, building on initial extension talks that took place last fall. With a new coach at the helm in Rick Tocchet, the Flyers land a long-term commitment from York at a marginal discount on his market value.
AFP Analytics projected a long-term extension for York to be a five-year deal at roughly $5.75MM per season. That’s shrewd work from general manager Daniel Brière to work quickly to remove an offer sheet threat while locking him in around 10% cheaper than expected.
The Flyers will technically be over the cap by roughly $580K with a full roster after registering York’s contract, although that shouldn’t be cause for concern. Retired defenseman Ryan Ellis’ $6.25MM cap hit will be placed on long-term injured reserve for the entirety of the season. At the same time, winger Tyson Foerster and his $3.75MM cap hit could also land on LTIR to begin the year while he recovers from an infection in his elbow. High-paid defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen also isn’t expected to be ready to begin the season. Philadelphia has time on their side to shed salary if need be – a move that could be as simple as waiving and reassigning third-string goaltender Ivan Fedotov, bringing his $3.275MM cap hit down to $2.125MM.
Next season, York will reprise his top-pairing role while fellow lefty Travis Sanheim mans the right side. He should be ticketed for a bump in ice time if Tocchet restores some of his power-play minutes. The 24-year-old didn’t see any deployment with the man advantage in 2024-25 – under 10 minutes in total – after playing a regular role there in 2023-24. That should help his offensive numbers to a career-high as well. He had 30 points in 82 games two years ago before posting 17 in 66 last season.
He and Sanheim will headline the Flyers’ defensive unit next season while being supported by veterans Ristolainen and Nick Seeler, some up-and-comers in Emil Andrae, Jamie Drysdale, and Egor Zamula, while also being complemented by depth free agent pickups Dennis Gilbert and Noah Juulsen.
Image courtesy of Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.
I think that might be a little bit of an overpay IMO. I don’t think it’s a gross overpay but I thought $4.5mil – $4.75mil. I can’t complain if Rick can get an improvement out of York that the last coach couldn’t.
Have to consider the AAVs in the 5s handed out to Kevin Bahl, Nic Hague, etc. in the past few weeks. Based on recent comparables, at least, this is far from being an overpay.
Yeah I don’t love some of the recent contracts but if you want your guy the market is the market. Am loving that the Hawks were able to lock up Vlasic for 6 at $4.6mm last year. That contract ages more beautifully by the minute.
If Provorov gets $8 million this is a bargain and he’s not an ahole like provy
Never understood how the Flyers got themselves sucked up into the Ryan Ellis deal.
You see, there was this terrible GM named Chuck Fletcher who somehow got a job because of his last name, and he was a dangerous combo of desperate and incompetent
York and Drysdale are softer than a chihuahua’s head.
Drysdale will be out of the league after next season, York will be bought out after year 3 of his new deal.
Briere is building a team that will never win a round in the Playoffs.
Surprising that Jonesy is co-authorizing this journey to the mushy middle. Feel bad for Flyers fans.
A change in coaching might do the trick. To write these kids off as “soft” seems a little pre mature. They got him at a premium for what the market currently is.
While Drysdale has had injury concerns, York has played solid minutes. The stuff with Tortorella was beyond ridiculous. He was clearly the wrong coach for their situation and it’s good that they cut the cord now.
Building a team that will “never win in the playoffs”? Quite the crystal ball you have there! Only time will tell. Rebuilds take a long time in hockey
at least this makes sense to chuck fletcher