How close-knit Flyers are led by 3 ‘best friends’ with California connections
It was, to this point, the pinnacle of Cam York’s career: an overtime, game-winning, playoff series-clinching goal, capped by a stick-launching celebration already etched in the minds of Philadelphia Flyers fans who had been patiently craving that sort of elation for more than a decade. Still in his jersey and full gear due to his delayed entrance into the dressing room, York parked himself next to Jamie Drysdale. Trevor Zegras joined them. As their joyous teammates left the room one by one, the trio lingered. No one but the three of them knows what was said. But everyone present sensed the significance of the moment — three “best friends,” as York put it, reuniting in Philadelphia and experiencing the individual and team success that each might’ve once feared would never come. “Honestly, it’s kind of felt like a movie almost,” York said earlier this week. “Since the Olympic break, all the big games we’ve played in — and just going through the journey together.” Said Drysdale: “Just going through that, experiencing what we have through this year, especially here at the end, together — I think it was just three really good buddies enjoying it, taking it all in, and happy we got to do it together.”
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere has stressed throughout his tenure that he values establishing a strong dressing room culture as one of the pillars of the rebuild. Reuniting Drysdale, York and Zegras in Philadelphia is not entirely by coincidence.
All three of Zegras, York and Drysdale have persevered through some hardships in their careers on their way here. For Zegras, it was a decline in his numbers and responsibility on an Anaheim team that seemed to favor other, younger prospects on the way. Drysdale endured a number of early-career injuries and was probably rushed into the league, stunting his development. He spoke honestly about that with The Athletic in March. It all makes the present even more satisfying. “I know (having playoff success) means the world to them,” York said of Drysdale and Zegras. “When you go through what both they went through — contract problems, not sure if the GM likes you, and all that stuff, that can wear on a player sometimes. Jamie, the injuries he’s gone through, to having a great year. It’s great to see those guys playing the way that they have.”
Zegras and Drysdale are pending restricted free agents. It’s highly likely that Briere will lock the two of them up at some point this summer. York is in the first of a five-year extension he signed last July. The three of them could remain together for a long time. For now, they’re just taking it all in as only three close friends can, as evidenced by those fleeting few minutes in the locker room after beating the Penguins that they won’t soon forget. “When you struggle a little bit early on in our careers, to having super special moments like that, it’s pretty cool,” York said. “It’s a moment we’ll all cherish for the rest of our lives together.”
