WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Flyers are still waiting for their blue line to settle down, and one of the more familiar looks is back in the mix.
With Cam York returning after missing eight games, he was reunited with Jamie Drysdale for Tuesday night’s 4-3 overtime loss to Columbus. The pair has worked well together before, most notably during Philadelphia’s late push toward the playoffs last season, and coach Rick Tocchet would like to see that connection click again as the season goes on.
That reunion came after Rasmus Ristolainen landed back on IR for at least two weeks because of an aggravation of a hand injury. Instead of sliding York into the top pairing with Travis Sanheim, Tocchet put York back beside Drysdale.
Before Wednesday night’s game at Capital One Arena, Tocchet said the pairing looked fine against the Blue Jackets, but he wants to see them get the puck moving faster.
“For me, when they’re defending quicker. . .it seems like they’ve been hemmed in a bit,” Tocchet said. “It’s not their fault. Last year it seemed like they had the puck a lot more, got to the puck a little bit quicker.
“So that’s something they’re going to have to work on.”
Drysdale’s night had a big moment attached to it. He scored the game-tying goal with 9.6 seconds left, finishing off a three-goal comeback against Columbus. York, meanwhile, didn’t look rusty after his time away.
Drysdale said he and York have a good feel for each other, even if they haven’t had much time together lately.
“We haven’t had a ton of time to play together,” Drysdale pointed out. “But it doesn’t really worry me that much. We weren’t very good in last night’s game to be honest but I don’t think there was much good in general.
“We just have to move our feet, work for each other. When we break out of our own end well, I think that’s something that we add. Getting into the O-zone as quick as possible.”
When asked about Tocchet’s point about quicker breakouts, Drysdale kept it simple.
“Move our feet,” he reiterated. “Look for first options. Sometime simplify.”
Drysdale said his recent uptick in offensive chances hasn’t come from a major shift in his approach.
“I think just stick to my game, bring the puck out clean,” he said.
Rookie Oliver Bonk, meanwhile, is still learning on the fly. Wednesday night was his ninth game of the season, and he’s already making adjustments as he goes. Through his first eight games, he had five assists.
Against Columbus, though, he had a rough first period and finished minus-2. Tocchet isn’t making a big deal out of it.
“A 20-year-old kid, you go through that kind of stuff,” Tocchet said. “D-men, it usually takes time to mature.
I think he’s matured pretty well being up here. What I like is, he’s had some rough spots and he’s bounced back.
You know he’s given us some good shifts out there.
“I’ve seen a couple shifts where he has struggled out there but he’s bounced back. So that’s a good thing for a 20-year-old.”
In Other News...
Flyers Suddenly Loom In A Trade Drama Fans Need To Watch
Dylan Larkins trade request has quickly become one of the more intriguing leaguewide storylines, and the Philadelphia Flyers have suddenly found themselves on the edge of it. The Detroit Red Wings are dealing with a star center who plans to sit out until his situation is resolved, while the Minnesota Wild have emerged as the most aggressive team trying to pry him loose. For a Flyers club that is always watching the market for ways to add talent, the fact that their name is even circling this conversation is worth noting.
The challenge, as it stands, is that Detroit does not view Minnesotas current offers as close to acceptable, which is why the talks have started to widen beyond a simple one-on-one negotiation. Other teams are being discussed as possible pieces of the puzzle, and Philadelphia is among the clubs being mentioned in that broader framework. No deal is done yet, and with players and prospects already being floated as possible trade chips, this is the kind of situation that could shift quickly if the right structure finally emerges. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Suddenly Have A Problem Last Years Team Never Faced
A season that was supposed to build on last springs playoff trip has instead turned into a rough early test for the Flyers, who have spent the opening weeks chasing the game more often than controlling it. Defensive lapses, uneven effort and injuries to key players have combined to leave Philadelphia with a poor goal differential and little margin for error, a jarring shift from the steadier identity that carried last years club into the postseason.
The concern now is less about one bad stretch than the shape of the season itself, because the Flyers have already dug into a hole that makes every game feel heavier. There have been some individual bright spots along the way, but the bigger picture is hard to ignore, and the teams current place in the standings has only sharpened the sense that this group is dealing with a problem last years version never had to face. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Have Reached A Point Fans Cant Ignore Anymore
The Flyers rough season has reached the point where the frustration is no longer staying behind closed doors. Team leaders have been publicly critical of the way the club has played, and coach Rick Tocchet has agreed with the assessment, a sign that the message inside the room is becoming harder to ignore. When a teams own leadership starts questioning its edge and accountability, it usually means the problems have gone beyond a bad stretch.
For Philadelphia, the bigger issue is not just the losses but the tone around them, with the organization now facing a much more uncomfortable conversation about what kind of team it is right now. The latest discussion around the club is centered on how that reality check gets delivered and what it might look like if the Flyers want to reset the standard before the season slips any further away. [Read more 🡒]