Is It Time For Cam York To Be Called Up To The Flyers?

In his limited time in the NHL last year, York put up a respectable 3 goals and 7 assists in 30 games and showed the ability to transition the Flyers from defense to offense, with his skating and clean first passes in his own zone. York has the patience and poise with the puck to allow the play to develop and identify the highest percentage option, to relieve pressure and exit the zone cleanly and with possession. York's skating and excellent edge work also allows him to create separation from defenders and he isn't afraid to wheel when he sees open ice.

The knock on York in the preseason was his confidence and compete level. York lost some detrimental puck battles that directly resulted in goals against and in a training camp with a dozen players battling for roster spots on D, those lost battles and wavering issues with confidence stand out.

Tortorella stated he expected more from York after his demotion, «You can be okay, or you can be really good. That's when you make a difference. Being really good is making a difference. Those are the things we have to go through the process with him and we don't expect this to happen overnight»

The Flyers top line of Kevin Hayes, Travis Konecny, and Owen Tippett, along with the Flyers top pairing defense of Ivan Provorov and Tony DeAngelo have registered 54 of the Flyers 101 points on the year. If you add Joel Farabee's 9 points in fifteen games, those six players are responsible for 62% of the Flyers offense, which currently ranks 31st in the league with 37 goals on the year.

The Flyers must improve their offensive output if they want to remain in the playoff hunt, in the highly competitive Metro Division. Carter Hart is putting up phenomenal numbers in net, but he is going to need support on the score sheet in order for the Flyers to consistently win. Cam York has the potential to generate offense from the backend and improve the Flyers transition game, which has struggled at times this year.

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If York plays his way back into the Flyers lineup and shows Tortorella his ability to contribute at both ends of the ice, it may put Chuck Fletcher in the spotlight, as two of his high-profile signings may become part of a healthy scratch rotation.

Rasmus Ristolainen, who Fletcher signed to a 5-year $5.1 million-dollar deal and Travis Sanheim, who inked a $6.25 million-dollar extension that kicks in next season, may find themselves watching from the press box, as neither have played up to expectations. With Provorov and DeAngelo cemented in and Nick Seeler playing a solid, engaged, and stable game on the point, Sanheim, Ristolainen, Justin Braun, and Cam York could all see themselves in a rotation and competing for the remaining three spots on defense.

The Flyers AHL affiliate does not have much else to offer, as far as players who can inject offense into the Flyers lineup, but Cam York could be one viable option.