Flyers to Sign Defenseman Keith Yandle

The Flyers are expected  to sign veteran defenseman Keith Yandle to a one-year contract worth $900,000 when free agency begins tomorrow.

Yandle, a 34-year-old lefty, brings experience on the back end after 15 NHL seasons with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, and Florida Panthers.

His active streak of 922 consecutive games played is the second longest in NHL history behind Doug Jarvis’s streak of 964 games from 1975-1987. If Yandle appears in the first 43 games with Philadelphia this season, he will break the record on January 18th at the Wells Fargo Center against the Detroit Red Wings.

Yandle had 56 points with the Panthers in 2017-18 and 62 in 2018-19. His offensive output has slowed down at this point in his career, but he brings depth and veteran leadership to the blue line. His offensive metrics were still strong last season. He finished with a 56.4% Corsi For (CF%) and a 54.23% expected goals for percentage (xGF%) at even-strength play in 2020-21, according to Natural Stat Trick.

He led the NHL in time on ice on the power play last season, averaging 4:26 per game with the man advantage, according to Quant Hockey. He is not expected to contribute on the penalty kill.

General manager Chuck Fletcher has added Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, and now Yandle to the Flyers blue line. All three, along with forward Cam Atkinson, wore letters as alternate captains with their respective former teams.

Center Kevin Hayes has a close relationship with Yandle, and the two also played together with the Rangers under head coach Alain Vigneault. Yandle and Atkinson are both American-born players who have crossed paths with Hayes and James van Riemsdyk in international competitions.

The signing likely indicates that prospects Cam York and Yegor Zamula will not play full-time roles with the Flyers next season, although opportunities for the two are certainly not out of the question.

The flurry of offseason moves continues!