The Philadelphia Flyers have signed University of Michigan defenceman Cam York to a three-year entry-level contract, of which specific financial details have yet to be revealed. The Flyers drafted York in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, 14th overall.
BREAKING: We’ve signed defenseman @camyork2 to a three-year ELC! #AnytimeAnywhere https://t.co/tZJcVTdg7S
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 31, 2021
Flyers Sign Cam York
York has been extremely productive this year. He was named captain of Team USA for the 2021 World Junior Championships and, in January, recorded over 20 minutes of ice time in the US’s gold-medal-winning 2-0 victory over Canada. In Team USA’s seven games during the WJC, York notched five assists and one goal for six total points. He also found success playing for Michigan. Although the Wolverines were ultimately forced to withdraw from the NCAA Division I men’s hockey tournament due to positive COVID tests, York had a stellar regular season. He recorded 20 points and was subsequently named Defenceman of the Year for the Big Ten. Over two years with Michigan, York has nine goals and 27 assists for 36 points.
York has been one of the Flyers’ most exciting defensive prospects ever since he was drafted in 2019. He’s considered a bit undersized at 5’11”, 185 lbs, but makes up for his physical disadvantage with skill. Overall, York plays solidly on defence and possesses good passing ability, a quick release, and excellent mobility. This makes him a potent offensive threat as well.
What This Means For The Future
Interestingly, York’s contract begins this season. Given the timeframe of his deal, he may end up on an accelerated path. York will most likely start out with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL, but nothing is out of the realm of possibility when considering the way Philadelphia’s defence has performed.
This year, the Flyers’ blue line has been extremely shaky. They performed particularly badly in March, allowing an average of 4.31 goals per game. Granted, York still has yet to play a game at the professional level. Being a left defenceman in an organization with more defensive depth on the left side will also pose an interesting challenge. But if the Flyers’ defence continues to be a liability, he could potentially find himself facing his NHL debut much earlier than anticipated.
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