Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
Everyone knows by now how tough it was for the Flyers in 2022-23. 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 that 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 27-year-old, 6’3 181 pound, Travis Sanheim was the Flyers most steadiest defenseman this past season, as he was thrusted into a top pairing role. Paired alongside Cam York for the majority of the season, the two played well together for the most part, as Sanheim was very consistent. Sanheim is more consistent, and that has been one flaw to his ever growing game, “We’re gonna miss each other. We love that group in there, we didn’t want this to end. Each day we came to the rink we loved it, we enjoyed it.”
Sanheim continued, “I came in ready to prove a point and show what kind of player I was. The first quarter of the season was probably the best hockey I’ve played.”
Sanheim has finally evolved into a number one defenseman. Paired alongside Cam York, Sanheim did not lost a step from training camp and the pre-season. To be involved in all those trade rumors, 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 all the naysayers that said he was a bad Defenseman. Sanheim just seemed like a different Defenseman, and he wasn’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 showed on the ice, the proof was in the pudding. For his efforts, Sanheim was pretty banged up down the stretch, he admitted at exit interviews.
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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.
