Photo Credit: Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images
It has become apparent that Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher is building from the net out. He has added three defensemen in Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Keith Yandle. Yandle signed a one-year $900,000 deal, “Obviously, with having played for AV and knowing what he can bring to a team, I think that was a big part,” Yandle said. “Kevin obviously being one of my best friends, a guy that I trained with every day in the summers, and I see him around every day. It’s definitely one of those things when you have a friend on another team, we can feel confident. It definitely made it a little easier.”
Yandle is from Milton, MA, and is good friends with Kevin Hayes. He has also played under Head Coach Alain Vigneault. The writing was on the wall for a recipe for success in Philadelphia, and he can fit right in, “I think seeing what Chuck’s done even before free agency and making moves, making big moves,” Yandle said. “Just helping the team get better. I thought it was a no-brainer for me and being able to see what he did before today and tomorrow and see how active he was. It just seems like it’s a win now situation and that’s something that I’m all about. I thought it was the best fit.”
At the age of 34, Yandle may not be the offensive defenseman he once was, but he can still skate well. In addition, Yandle brings leadership as he is a former Assistant Captain. Gone are the days to where there are no voices in the Flyers locker room. Accountability was a strong word for this young Flyers team this past season. With this newly formed defensive unit people will be held accountable, and he is ready for revenge after being bought out, “I thought it was best case for me,” Yandle says. “Obviously, when you get bought out, it’s one of those things where it throws a little wrench in your life. I knew for me, I’d be able to go into a good team and a low cap hit and be able to help somebody out. I thought that was the biggest thing for me is looking at the bright side of it and put myself in a good situation. Ultimately, that’s what I did.”
Yandle has explosive skating ability, superior offensive instincts, coupled with great puck handling skills. He also possesses offensive instincts, to which Yandle has a heavy shot. Yandle is an asset on the power play, so the Flyers could use him there as well. He is a competitor, and Yandle isn’t that the defenseman that gets skittish and forces the puck in to bad areas, rather he is a defenseman that exits the zone with ease more often than not.
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“Last year, I was running the top power play up top. That’s what I see myself as a power play guy, a guy that can help out getting pucks to the forwards. Obviously, seeing how good the forwards are in Philly, it’s an exciting thing to see that and hopefully be able to pass those guys. I think, for me, it’s just being good on the power play. Obviously, you can’t score every power play, but it’s getting momentum for your team and staying positive. I definitely take pride in that.” – Keith Yandle on the power play
The Flyers needed a defenseman that could calm down the play on the ice, well Yandle does that. Moreover, the Flyers needed a defenseman that possesses good decision making skills. Well, Yandle is exactly what the doctor ordered for this young orange and black team, and he is ready to protect Carter Hart:
“He’s a stud. He’s a guy when you think of young goalies in the league, you think of him. A guy that I’m definitely excited about playing in front of. Just from talking to guys on the team, especially Kevin and the guys, you hear that he carries himself like he’s a 10-year vet. I’m excited to work with him and to play in front of him. Definitely one of those guys that when you look at signing with the Flyers and see how good of a goalie they have, that’s a big thing.” – Keith Yandle on Carter Hart
The Flyers needed some toughness so they wouldn’t get pushed around anymore, especially signing after last season. The addition of Yandle helps in this area as he has had his fair share of bouts over the course of his 16-year career. For Fletcher and the Flyers, his good shot from the point, coupled with his good decision making skills, make this a solid signing.
Flyers Notes:
A little late with this but congratulations to Travis Konecny and his fiancee Karly on the birth of their new child Rhett James Konecny
The Flyers have re-signed Connor Bunnaman to a two-year, two-way contract (2021-22) and a one-way deal (2022-23), worth an AAV of $750,000 for both years.
Yandle is a turnover machine. Doesn’t hit anyone and makes poor decisions.