Like most members of the 2024-25 Philadelphia Flyers, Cam York took a statistical step back. He dealt with nagging injuries, struggled on the ice at times, had "issues" with the coach, and had a looming contract issue. With the team spiraling all around him, it's natural to understand why the Flyers' defensive wunderkind would have struggled.
York turned 24 years old this past January. It's hard to believe he's already appeared in parts of five seasons with the Flyers. He got his big break with the team in 2021-22 when he appeared shortly after New Year's under the Alain Vigneault/Mike Yeo administration. He put up impressive numbers to start (three goals with seven assists) in the 30 games he played as the Flyers' season that year mercifully came to an end.
He had a bit of a sophomore slump the following season, dealing with injuries and a new head coach in John Tortorella. However, he finally had the season the team hoped he would have in 2023-24. He played in every game that year; the only Flyers' defender to do so. He scored a career high of 10 goals with 20 assists. Defensively, he had 174 blocks, 76 hits, and 18 takeaways. In both offensive and defensive metrics, he was trending in the right direction. And with the Flyers just barely missing the playoffs that season, hopes were high for the next one.
The fallout and thereafter for York
Then last year happened. York kept dealing with injuries. At times, he was playing injured or was trying to rush back from injuries. You could see it influencing his play. While appearing in only 66 games, his turnovers jumped from 32 to 90 in one season. That's an alarming leap. Whether he was rushing the play or not paying attention is unclear, but it didn't go unnoticed.
Tortorella started to get on York's case about his lack of offensive play, poor defensive play, and rate of turnovers. With a looming contract situation creeping up, as he was to be an RFA, there were rumors that he could be traded as the rift between coach and player grew.
Then the rift blew wide open. York was a healthy scratch in early and mid-March and expressed frustration at what had happened, citing a lack of communication. Meanwhile, Tortorella kept taking out his frustrations about York's play publicly. A week later, after this incident, York sat for the last 50 minutes of a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After the game, he and Tortorella got into a verbal altercation. Two days later, Tortorella was fired, and York was benched for his part in it.
New Contract, New Year, New Coach, New York?
Like most Flyers, York is ready to move on from the disaster that was last year. In the offseason, he signed a five-year extension that will pay him a little over $5 million a season. Despite what happened, it seems as if team management still sees something in York.
With that in mind, the Flyers have a new head coach, and last year is, well, last year. A new system is in place. Contract issues are a thing of the past. All of this means one thing: no excuses.
For York, this is his time to shine. He is only 24 years old and could have, potentially, another 16 years of wonderful hockey ahead of him. He could end up being a Flyers all-time great. That five-year deal seems to be a fairly good bargain. Now he has to earn it.
York is no longer a kid. Yes, he's 24, but there are some young prospects who are going to look to him for leadership. He can provide that with everything he's been through and overcome in his young career. It's time to grow up a bit, learn from the mistakes of the past, and use that to become a better player.
If the Flyers are going to become a better team, part of that needs to start with York being a better defender. If he can cut back on the turnovers and kick it up on the power play, there is no limit to how good he can be. Moreover, there is no limit to how good the Flyers can be this season.