Date Published: 1-9-2023
(Photo by Kevin Light)
It was October 5 when Cam York, the 14th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, was sent down by the Philadelphia Flyers. York had been having a bad camp, both by his standards and his new coach, John Tortorella. Prior to being sent down, there were rumblings that the Flyers were not in love with the camp York had been having. The night before he was sent down, the Flyers played a preseason game at home against the Bruins. York made a costly turnover in his own zone and the Bruins scored. That was enough for the Flyers.
Before the 2022-2023 season, York had NHL experience. He had played in 33 career games, making him ineligible for rookie status coming into the season.Â
Due to his 30 games in the NHL at the end of the year, it was expected by many York would not only start the year with the Flyers, but also have a big role in the team’s current youth-movement. Fast forward 20 more games in the American League, York has now arrived and is flourishing in the Flyers’ new system. He credits feeling better physically, mentally, and being more comfortable around the team and new coaches.
“I’m just more comfortable with everything, to be honest. Coaches, players, just a little bit of everything. Camp was tough. Physically and mentally, I didn’t feel great. I feel a lot better now and I’m starting to get into a groove.”
York also says his assertiveness is his biggest improvement from camp. “At the start I was a little hesitant. I was a little bit worried about some offensive things and now I’m playing more free.”
Unlike his fellow young defenseman, Ronnie Attard, York was not instructed to watch specific defensemen throughout the summer. Instead, the University of Michigan product watched film of guys like Torey Krug, Cale Makar, and Charlie McAvoy, among others. York went on to say he just tries to “focus on myself and get better everyday.”
York’s teammate, Travis Konecny, enjoying a breakout season of his own, said a similar message before the new year about focusing on getting better and coming into every game with the right mindset.
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York, who just turned 22 on Thursday, had the up close view of two of the best offensive defensemen of the last decade when the Flyers went out West. In San Jose, York watched Erik Karlsson “dance around the ice” and in Los Angeles, he was on the ice as the Flyers beat Drew Doughty and the Kings. York credits Doughty for being very good defensively, something he wants to get better at, and offensively.
Finally, the 5’11” defenseman talked about watching the World Junior Championship and who he kept his eyes on during the tournament. He named Luke Hughes, Cutter Gauthier, and Logan Cooley as guys who he knew a little bit from his time at the US Program. He also revealed he trained with Hughes, the captain of Team USA during the tournament (another similarity between the two), over the summer.
York’s eight points in 13 games so far show that Tortorella’s want for him to be more aggressive offensively is working. Tortorella’s wants from York are his strengths. The signs are clear that York can continue to produce offensively while still getting better defensively. York has played on both sides and up and down the lineup. His versatility is helping him stay in the lineup and his production should continue to get him more minutes.
