The Philadelphia Flyers and their basic supervisor, Daniel Briere, have made a speaking level out of “evaluating” their gamers. With a 19-20-5 report, although, they haven’t seen a lot team-wide development (a lot for evaluating, proper?). However that’s not necessary within the grand scheme of issues. That’s not the proper factor to concentrate on in any respect, truly.
Whether or not they wish to admit it or not, the Flyers’ rebuild will depend on Matvei Michkov. Every part is about him. So, the gamers who make him considerably higher are price holding. That is the place two younger defensemen are available in: Jamie Drysdale and Cam York.
Few gamers on the Flyers have given Michkov a large increase in probability technology. Drysdale and York are two of the exceptions. Let’s dive into the numbers, add context to determine why these numbers are so good, and justify holding the defenders long-term.
Why Drysdale and Michkov Are So Efficient
I already did a deep dive into Drysdale’s resurgence this season, however one portion of that publish is price increasing on: his influence on Michkov. Particularly, we see a night-and-day distinction in anticipated objectives for per 60, a de facto play-driving metric. The higher the quantity, the extra seemingly you might be to attain.
At 5-on-5, Drysdale has been capable of activate Michkov’s offensive sport to an extent that only a few gamers on the staff can. The Flyers drafted the 20-year-old Russian for simply that: offense. So, the early indicators of this duo are promising.
Duo (5-on-5) | Ice Time | Anticipated Targets For Per 60 | Anticipated Objective Share |
Drysdale-Michkov | 141:54 | 3.55 | 52.86% |
Michkov with out Drysdale | 376:36 | 2.40 | 53.22% |
Drysdale with out Michkov | 362:57 | 2.19 | 47.52% |
Flyers with out Both | 1,271:00 | 2.45 | 52.11% |
Anybody can throw out a bunch of numbers. However what’s the that means behind them?
We will see Drysdale’s impact on Michkov’s sport with our personal eyes. One instance was towards the Florida Panthers final night time (Jan. 13) within the first interval. Drysdale compelled a turnover low within the defensive zone and obtained the puck as much as Michkov, who flung a one-touch cross as much as Sean Couturier for a partial 2-on-1. The following shot resulted in a juicy rebound, giving Michkov a high-danger probability (that was finally stopped).
Associated: Noah Cates’ 2-Objective Recreation Leads Flyers to Necessary Win Over Panthers
This is only one particular instance of the performs Drysdale has been making much more of since his return from harm on Dec. 8. Typically, like what was simply referenced, the performs are refined. Others, not a lot (on the facility play, positive, however price sharing nonetheless):
Again-to-back video games with a number of energy play objectives. ⚡️#FLAvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/dDExoL4MCN
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 14, 2025
Drysdale, after quite a few harm setbacks in his younger profession, has lastly began to unlock his offensive sport. In actual fact, he’s been probably the greatest mills of scoring probabilities within the NHL since his return in December. That hasn’t precisely translated to factors, nonetheless sitting on 10 in 32 contests this season, however he has noticeably reworked his sport.
A Michkov and Drysdale marriage at 5-on-5 has proven it could actually make each gamers important offensive threats. Simply 20 and 22 respectively, they’ve years to construct upon this symbiotic relationship. They already feed off one another effectively in transition—doing so extra steadily within the offensive zone can assist them attain a fair higher ceiling.
Why York and Michkov Are So Efficient
There is just one different defenseman to succeed in the three.00 anticipated objectives for per 60 mark subsequent to Michkov at 5-on-5. That defender is York, and he’s exceeded that by so much. Their numbers are beneath:
Duo (5-on-5) | Ice Time | Anticipated Targets For Per 60 | Anticipated Objective Share |
York-Michkov | 114:34 | 3.80 | 62.37% |
Michkov with out York | 403:55 | 2.40 | 49.77% |
York with out Michkov | 437:40 | 2.14 | 53.98% |
Flyers with out Both | 1,196:16 | 2.48 | 50.27% |
The attention-grabbing half about York is that he’s extra of a gradual, off-puck defender than he was. He’s very methodical. Stapled to Travis Sanheim, who will get vastly extra on-puck time, the alternatives York will get to unleash his fullest offensive potential are slim. As a substitute, he’s sometimes centered on holding the puck out of his internet, exemplified by being one of many league’s greatest in anticipated objectives towards per 60 (1.92).
So, why are his outcomes so good with Michkov? Why does the next discrepancy, proven within the desk beneath, exist?
Trio (5-on-5) | Ice Time | Anticipated Targets For Per 60 | Anticipated Objective Share |
York-Sanheim-Michkov | 93:25 | 3.28 | 59.62% |
Sanheim-Michkov (with out York) | 88:28 | 2.21 | 50.00% |
York-Michkov (with out Sanheim) | 22:09 | 5.99 | 69.72% |
Nicely, to begin with, we’ve got to contemplate York’s harm earlier this season. He missed loads of time, leaving Sanheim with out his common defensive associate. Michkov’s offensive sport suffered.
York and Sanheim’s time spent aside permits us to focus on the previous’s influence. He has the puck much less, so why is there such a giant hole?
My greatest reply right here is York’s means to get the puck up the ice and set up breakouts. Extra particularly, he’s permitting Michkov to get extra touches than regular. The extra puck touches Michkov will get, the higher it’s for the Flyers’ offense. He could also be 20 years outdated, however his means to create is already star-caliber. Therefore, there are much more scoring probabilities when York is on the ice.
Drysdale & York Are Value Preserving Round
That is based mostly on what I’ve seen on-line, so take it with a grain of salt, however I really feel a big portion of the Flyers’ fanbase has a impartial or unfavorable view of each Drysdale and York. That means, they’d be open to a commerce.
My tackle it’s that neither—and far much less each—of Michkov’s greatest activators ought to be traded away. With York’s deal expiring this summer time and Drysdale’s expiring the subsequent, we’ll learn how a lot the Flyers worth that means.

Each of those gamers have room to develop. We’re seeing among the greatest hockey Drysdale has ever performed on the NHL degree—he’s gone from concerningly not on time to promisingly forward of it. That’s to not say he’s excellent, however his development has been an enormous plus for the Flyers this season. Contemplating Rasmus Ristolainen, in his late 20s no much less, went from a career-long legal responsibility in a top-four position to a real asset below affiliate coach Brad Shaw, the outlook for Drysdale ought to be a constructive one. Defensive improvement is a robust go well with of this hockey staff.
York is 24 now, so it’s straightforward to see why some individuals could also be decrease on him. His particular person offensive sport has taken a step again from the place it was in 2022-23—it seemed like a power again then, however now it’s most likely a weak spot. Nonetheless, there’s a catch.
Some of the productive defenders with the US Nationwide Group Improvement Program (USNTDP), York’s offense didn’t simply go away. The top-five single-season defenseman level leaders in program historical past are the next: Cole Hutson, York, Lane Hutson, Adam Fox, and Quinn Hughes. The primary participant listed, drafted final summer time, led the complete 2025 World Junior Championship in factors. The third leads all rookies in factors this season. The final two every have a Norris Trophy victory and a number of 70-plus level campaigns to their identify.
It takes a particular participant to attain that a lot with the USNTDP. So, what offers? The likeliest clarification is that York is being restricted an excessive amount of. Positive, he’s been nice defensively, nevertheless it’s offense, sarcastically sufficient, that separates the great defensemen from elite ones.
It could possibly be a course of, however an offensive renaissance could also be in York’s future. Removed from Hughes-esque, however a renaissance nonetheless. The Flyers want to provide him that probability, although. If he will get it, his potential might skyrocket in a Michkov-led offense. He has the expertise for it.
A lot of focus has been positioned on getting Michkov—and the remainder of the staff—higher facilities for the long run. Offenses rely upon them, so it is smart why. But it surely has been Drysdale and York, two defensemen, who’ve quietly elevated Michkov’s sport. Contemplating neither of them has hit their 25th birthday, this could possibly be a long-term relationship.
Superior stats courtesy of Pure Stat Trick