Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers’ Most Important Contract Situation Isn’t Travis Konecny’s
Matvei Michkov is the biggest, craziest, and most important Philadelphia Flyers storyline in the upcoming NHL offseason. The second such storyline? It would be the future of All-Star forward Travis Konecny, who was atypically deflective when quizzed about his contract situation during his exit interview in April.
Konecny, 27, is in the last year of the six-year, $33 million contract he inked with the Flyers on Sept. 16, 2019, and will be eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1. As the team’s resident star player, it’s understandable that Konecny draws most of the speculation from Flyers fans and members of the hockey community alike.
But there’s just one more thing. The Flyers have another player up for a contract extension in July who is equally, if not more, deserving of the spotlight. That’s defenseman Cam York, who enjoyed a remarkable breakout campaign in what was his first full season in the NHL in 2023-24.
The 23-year-old is in the final year of a two-year, $3.2 million bridge contract that Flyers general manager Danny Briere drafted up and signed him to on July 10. York scored 10 goals, 20 assists, and 30 points this season whilst notably playing in all 82 regular season games.
Perhaps even more impressive is that he did so by playing through a painful shoulder injury in February leading up to and including the Stadium Series game against the New Jersey Devils, something which York sheepishly admitted to during his exit interview.
York will turn 24 in January, meaning that if the Flyers give him the maximum eight-year contract extension now, they’ll be able to tie the young defenseman down through his age 32 season.
Conversely, if they did the same for Konecny, the All-Star forward would be signed through his age 36 season. That would be less than ideal for a player who has run into injury trouble and penalty trouble in recent years and has only one goal in 22 career NHL playoff games.
Though still young, York has proven that he can rise to the occasion in crunch time. He averaged a career-high 22:37 in his first full season in the NHL, trailing fellow defenseman and defense partner Travis Sanheim for tops on the Flyers by 1:11. In addition, he and Sanheim were the only Flyers to average 20:00 of ice time or more this season.
And even though Nick Seeler has gained notoriety for his unwavering willingness to block shots as if offended by the opponent’s thought to even try shooting, York trailed him for the team lead in blocks by only 31.
In short, there’s nothing the Michigan product can’t do. York plays the power play and the penalty kill, puts up points, hits, blocks shots, plays through pain for his team, skates and moves the puck at a very high level, and rarely plays a bad game, in the words of teammate Marc Staal.
Without a shadow of a doubt, York’s contract could and should be the Flyers‘ most prudent piece of business this summer.
I just don’t see enough from York to be that impressed. He looks good at the point on the PP but rather average everywhere else. I disagree with his importance as well as his next contract. We have plenty 1st round disappointments on this team that haven’t played like a 1st round selection. This team’s got a history of overvaluing their talent. Now we have it from a blogger?
Not sure who this blogger is that you’re referring to. I’m a beat reporter. I’m not a Flyers fan and I never was, so I don’t wear those rose-tinted glasses.
Ouch
These eight year contracts have become an albatross for many NHL teams….like to see Danny B. be a little creative and offer five or six year contracts, ilo of eight year deals, with a higher upfront AAV in the first 2 or 3 years……makes moving the player in a trade, if necessary, a lot easier down the road.
I have to agree, going to have to meet somewhere in the middle, definitely not a 8yr deal. Maybe go 4 or 5, hasn’t proven enough yet.
Steady York is good not star by any stretch, deserves good pay day but definitely not in elite group and can’t overpay him. He headlines second pairing which gives Flyers a top defense, but we need top pairing
Agree, and remember that defensemen can take a while to develop. York should continue to improve.
You do know that in 2 of the last 5 years the Flyers didn’t play 70 games?
Kinda hard for Konecny to play over 70 games when the team played 69 in 19-20 and 56 in 20-21. He missed a total of 9 games over those 2 seasons.
True! Updated for clarity & accuracy
Konecny looking for $10 million a year , yeah he loves Philly and he’s a team leader. Asking for money he’s nowhere near his worth, trade him let somebody else overpay him . Greedy athletes don’t care about winning they care about themselves and not team or teammates see ya he’d be out of town in a minute if he asks for that much
I really like TK but agree that $10 million, if the report is accurate, is over his worth. If they can agree to $7-8 million, ok, but other than that I would look to trade him.
Got 2 agree. Also, hasn’t shown anything in the playoffs, will it be a different story under Torts in the playoffs, when we get there again? I mean, Konecny would be more mature and advanced in his game now. Still, no huge deal. Yeah, in the 7-8 mil range, not 8 yrs either. If he balks at it, take your chances at the trade deadline.
I would really look into trading TK. The handwriting is on the board that he wants his big payday now, so he’ll want 8 yrs and definitely north of 9. If Guentzel is only worth 8×8, TK is well under that. Offer him 10-9-8-8 at the max, 35 over 4 years. He’ll probably balk, then trade him. Would not go more than five years.