Photo Credit: Katelynn Reiss
Everyone knows by now how tough it was for the Flyers last season . No Sean Couturier, no Cam Atkinson, and of course no Ryan Ellis. However, the orange and black were competitive on most nights. Travis Sanheim was average last season, not bad, just average. The good thing is he knows he can be better and he wants to further his game into a more reliable defenseman, “Provy was an unbelievable defenseman, and he logged a lot of minutes. Somebody has to take those minutes,” Sanheim said in training camp. “I want to be a guy that can step up, and kind of grab a hold of those opportunities. Obviously, that’s going to be decided here in camp and into the season.”
The young 27-year-old, 6’3 181 pound, Travis Sanheim was the Flyers most steadiest defenseman two seasons ago. Paired alongside Rasmus Ristolainen for the majority of the season, the two played well together for the most part, as Sanheim was very consistent. The one area that Sanheim should have received more playing time was the Power Play. It was time to take the gloves off these younger guys, and see what the Flyers had with the man advantage at the time. That was then, this is now. Sanheim is more consistent, and that has been one flaw to his ever growing game, “It sucks” when Sanheim talked about the trade rumors he was involved in this past offseason, most notably being traded for Torey Krug (Amongst other players), “I didn’t see anything,” Sanheim said with a laugh. “There was probably a week there were there was lots going on. I was on my phone pretty well every day It’s not a position you want to be in but it’s a business. I understand it, I understand where the team’s at.”
Sanheim continued, “We got to try to grow the back end. I want to be a leader back there. I want to lead by example and have a good season. He then elaborated on his and Head Coach John Tortorella’s relationship, “We had a good relationship,” Sanheim said. “We know each other better now. He understands me, kind of what I’m all about. I understand his expectations, and I think it’s going to be a good thing. Same thing with Jonesy (Keith Jones the Flyers’ team President) coming into camp. I’m looking forward to this year and put last season in the past.”
Sanheim has evolved into a number one defenseman. Paired alongside Cam York, Sanheim has not lost a step from training camp and the pre-season. To be involved in all those trade rumors this past offseason, it just so happens not trading Sanheim was the best trade that didn’t happen, “You know I’m up his ass here last year, he’s in trade talks. His skill level hasn’t changed, his skating hasn’t changed, what he has changed is his mindset. He has shown us from day one he was going to take control, and he’s done it,” John Tortorella said. “I’m happy for him, I’m proud of him.”
As Sanheim entered the first season of an eight-year, $50-million extension, he has looked to put last season in the past and move on. Sanheim said he added about 17 pounds of muscle this past offseason, and he came to camp in great shape. He looks well conditioned, calm, poised, and did not make many mistakes. Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere said that Sanheim came into camp in great shape, and was one of the most fittest players in that locker room.
“You know I’m up his ass here last year, he’s in trade talks. His skill level hasn’t changed, his skating hasn’t changed, what he has changed is his mindset. He has shown us from day one he was going to take control, and he’s done it.” – John Tortorella
Kudos to Sanheim to putting to rest, at least for now, all the naysayers that said he is a bad Defenseman. Sanheim just seems like a different Defenseman, and he isn’t being sheltered anymore. The difference is that Sanheim is confident in his game, in a sense that he knows he could make the right plays. Sanheim has evolved into a number one Defenseman and a leader. It shows on the ice, the proof is in the pudding.
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“For years he’s been a good player,” Couturier said of Sanheim. “He’s been Provy’s shadow. He worked hard this Summer and gained some pounds. He must be hard to play against and it’s good to see him grow into a number one dman.”
The sky is the limit for Sanheim, as expectations of consistency will be surrounding him throughout the course of the year, “I’m here today. There’s a reason I signed here for eight years. I want to be in Philadelphia, I’m excited. I like the group that we have,” Sanheim said.
