#2: Cam York
Kid, you wanted to be a first round pick and you wanted to be in the NHL. You wanted the spotlight and accolades that come with it. This is your time to shine.
With the big changes on defense that have happened this offseason, it is clear that the Flyers have pretty much made it clear that Cam York is the guy that they are counting on to helm the defense this season. Is he ready?
We’ll soon find out the answer to that question. If he is ready to lead the blueliners, he’s going to have to do it on the ice. He had a decent rookie season after being thrown into a defensive unit in flux midway through the year. Now he must prove he permanently belongs.
There are six defenders on the team. It is likely that the Flyers will carry seven and use one in rotation. York is most likely going to be a top-pairing defender and the quarterback for their power play. Maybe that’s not fair to put all of that on the shoulders of a 22 year old but hey, if you can’t handle it, you shouldn’t be here.
Fairly or unfairly, York is going to have a lot of expectations put on him. Much like Sanheim, the future of this team’s defensive corps seems to be resting on him. If he can weather the storm, the Flyers will be in a great position to evaluate where they go from here. If he can’t, the future of this team could be murky.