Welcome To Philly, Cameron York!
Friday afternoon in Vancouver marked the start of the 2019 NHL Draft. It also marked the second year in a three year span where we got to witness New Jersey take the stage for the first overall pick in what’s being considered a deep generational pool of young talent spanning all over the world. Most notably, the USA who birthed the start of eight player’s careers in the first round alone.
Philadelphia had the 11th pick overall in the first round, but before taking the stage, GM Chuck Fletcher stunned the crowd by staying seated as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman took the stage instead to announce a trade. As always, the crowd erupted in child-like excitement as the drama built up in anticipation for what was to come. After all, the past two weeks have proven that the Flyers have been- without question- the most active club in the offseason by far.
Philadelphia traded their 11th first round pick to Arizona in exchange for their 14th first round pick, and 45th overall which would extend into the halfway point of the second round. A questionable tactic that saw the flood gates open up for rumors, theories, and predictions all across the board. The mood was made even tenser considering American born, 72 goal phenom Cole Caufield was already (and remarkably) passed on by Edmonton, Anaheim, and Vancouver. Three slots where Caufield was projected to pick within the rankings.
However, it was Caufield’s Team USA teammate, an elite defenseman Cameron York who took the stage ten minutes later to sport his new orange and black Flyers jersey, to the delight of Chuck Fletcher, Alain Vigneault, and front office staff.
The move was surprising, yet eventually fell into a logical decision for fans considering the front end talent already waiting in the wings to crack their spots out of camp, versus the majority of the defensive prospects already being utilized in the lineup late last season. Phil Myers, Travis Sanheim and Sam Morin are just a few who have managed to come up through the ranks to see their start in Philly.
So what will Cameron York bring to the orange and black in the upcoming seasons? York has been sighted as an elite defenseman with incredible hockey sense, phenomenal skating, precision passing and the ability to anticipate plays before they happen. The 18-year-old, left-handed phenom has also been ranked 12th overall by NHL Central Scouting, 12th by HockeyScouting .com and 18th overall by TSN’s own, Bob Mckenzie.
Not bad slot positioning for a 5’11” / 175lb kid from Anaheim, California who managed to draft midway through the first round of what’s being considered the deepest talent and prospect pool since 2016. York told multiple media outlets how badly he wants to make the team, and as soon as possible.
If you find yourself still questioning why the Flyers passed on Caufield, the speedy “shoot first” 5’7 winger from Wisconsin for another defenseman, keep in mind how much offensive talent is not only already filling up all four lines, but the prospects waiting patiently to make the team. Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and Isaac Ratcliffe are only a few names out of many that have yet to make it out of camp and onto an already overflowing roster.
Cameron York will not only strengthen the defensive core now but lay out a future for the Flyers to keep competing on the blue line for years to come.
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