How close-knit Flyers are led by 3 ‘best friends’ with California connections
full article under the cut, May 7, 2026
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.
In a postgame bench interview on TNT shortly after going through the handshake line with the Pittsburgh Penguins, York looked as if he didn’t quite know how to react. As broadcaster Chris Mason asked the first question, York couldn’t help but briefly glance up at the still-packed arena, giving a quick headshake of seeming disbelief at the gravity of it all.
What happened a few minutes later was just as special.
Then, 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.”
York and Zegras have known each other since they were teenage teammates with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2017-19, having become fast friends. After getting drafted by the Ducks, Zegras lived at the Southern California native York’s family’s house for a year — where fellow Ducks prospect Drysdale would often visit. Zegras and York are now 25; Drysdale is 24.
Drysdale was dealt to the Flyers on Jan. 8, 2024, in exchange for Cutter Gauthier. Zegras, of course, joined them this season, acquired by the Flyers on June 23, 2025. Now the three are center-stage for Philadelphia, which faces a 2-0 series deficit against the Hurricanes heading into Game 3 on Thursday night.
Their personalities, by their own admission, are varied.
“I think I’m probably the quietest of the group,” Drysdale said. “Z is a clown, but everyone kind of knows that. Yorkie is sneaky the same way. It’s always a great time. It’s always a lot of fun.”
Zegras echoed that.
“Me and Cam are pretty similar,” he said. “Jamie is probably the odd one out.”
Regardless, York added, “If anyone needs anything, we’re there for each other. It’s just a tight three friends.”
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.
There’s a trickle-down effect for the rest of the team, in fact, according to winger Noah Cates.
“Obviously, they’re tight,” Cates said. “Their energy, their spirits are always high and positive. I think that’s the biggest thing with this group, everyone’s doing that, pulling on the same rope, in it together and playing for each other. Those guys kind of exemplify that, but everyone’s doing it and following off of those guys.”
They can even help set an example for the next wave of youngsters in the organization, too.
“It’s kind of cool for me, (Porter Martone), (Alex Bump), all the young guys around here, to look forward to,” said 21-year-old Denver Barkey. “We’re all going through the same thing. It’s something we can all work towards.”
Why is that important? 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.”
York went through his own ordeal. Drafted by the Flyers in the 2019 draft (No. 14 overall, five spots after the Ducks selected Zegras), he seemed to be on an upward trajectory before last season, when he butted heads with then-coach John Tortorella. The Flyers suspended him for a game in the aftermath of a postgame incident on March 25, 2025, that also hastened Tortorella’s firing.
This season, under Rick Tocchet, all three have found their footing. Zegras set career highs in goals (26) and points (67), fitting in seamlessly on a team that was in desperate need of more skill. Drysdale’s defensive game, in particular, reached new heights, and he now looks like a legitimate, consistent top-four defenseman. Tocchet paired Drysdale with York on a full-time basis in late January, and their success together was a big part of the reason the Flyers were one of the best defensive teams in the NHL from that point on.
Tocchet deserves credit for helping all three players take a step forward. But they’ve also been able to lean on each other, too.
Their friendship off the ice helped Drysdale and York become a successful pair, according to Drysdale.
“I’ve played with Yorkie this year and that’s been awesome,” he said. “Because we’re so tight off the ice we talk about everything on the ice. Not afraid to give it to each other here and there, and I think that helps.”
Drysdale credits Zegras for nudging him along, too.
“From the moment (Zegras) got here,” Drysdale said, “he’s pretty encouraging with me in the sense of, like, ‘Dude, what the heck are you doing? Just skate with the puck. I know it, I’ve seen it.’ Things like that. It’s been great.”
Zegras couldn’t help but smile when asked about his unique form of message-sending to his friend.
“There will just be times where I’ll just poke (Drysdale) just to get him going a little bit, when I think he could be doing more,” Zegras said. “I just think he’s such a good player. Sometimes I give him a little reminder.”
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.”
“Doing it alongside really, really close friends, especially for the first time for all of us,” Drysdale said, “has been an absolute blast.”
