PHILADELPHIA – They just might be the Flyers’ most effective defense pairing since Mark Howe and Brad McCrimmon back in the 1980s.
So when Travis Sanheim and Cam York skate onto the ice together with two minutes to go in a one-goal game, fans know good things are likely to happen.
There have been individual star players to come down the pike since the days of Howe (one of five Flyers who are in the Hockey Hall of Fame and had their numbers retired) and McCrimmon. Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen come to mind.
But few have had partnerships where the two players seemed to be so in sync.
With Sanheim and York, it’s like they’ve been partners for like 10 years or so when in reality it’s only been a couple.
Circumstances sort of broke up the pairing last season but it looks like the two will be regular partners again this season under new coach Rick Tocchet.
Why is this tandem so effective?
“I think both guys are like two-way D-men,” captain Sean Couturier explained. “They can chip in offensively, can play defensively, so overall I just think they feed off each other. When one guy goes, the other guy backs him up.”
It’s the ability to read off the partner’s moves instinctively without having to pause a split-second which can make a big difference.
“They’re a big part of our ‘D’ squad,” Couturier said. “We’ll need them on top of their game.”
Those effective moments in crucial situations by a team’s top defense pairing can have a big impact on a team’s fortunes.
“You have a guy like ‘Sanny’ who eats up a lot of minutes,” Couturier said. “And you have a guy like ‘Yorkie’ who’s solid at both ends of the ice.
“As the years go by and they gain more experience, I think it’s just going to become more natural and be out there in those situations.”
Sanheim, 29, is entering his ninth NHL season and York, 24, his fifth.
“We feel playing with each other,” said Sanheim. “I think we’re just two good puck-movers, good skaters that defend pretty well. We kind of read off each other and look to make plays. I think it benefits both of us when we’re able to make those plays and create the offense.”
Coach Rick Tocchet knows the potential when these players are paired together.
For Tocchet, there’s the question of whether he wants two left-handed shots on the same pairing. But Sanheim doesn’t seem to care which side he’s on. He’s OK with working the right side.
“I feel comfortable playing on either side,” Sanheim said. “We’ll see what happens but I think we would be a pretty good pair.”
York has admitted last season wasn’t his finest. He seemed to be out of ex-coach John Tortorella’s favor much of the time. The season culminated near the end with a headline-grabbing shouting match between the two which may or may not have contributed to Tortorella’s firing shortly after.
As early as training camp, York sounds much more upbeat this time around.
He has his own opinions as to why the Sanheim-York chemistry seems so strong.
“I think we both have a high hockey IQ,” he began. “We’re both kind of rovers, I guess, on the ice. We both just read off each other. It’s instinctive hockey.”
A steady Sanheim-York reunion can also be invaluable on the penalty kill.
“We’re both really good skaters who can defend well,” York said. “I think it’s just a good dynamic offensively and defensively.”
The Flyer rearranged their locker room at the Xfinity Mobile Arena and York this season and Sanheim and York found themselves sitting side-by-side. Of course, Sanheim wears No. 6 and York No. 8, so there’s a numerical element involved. Still, the two don’t have to raise their voices to exchange information.
Plus, getting together off the ice helps, too.
“Yeah, we’ve been together for a while now,” York said. “There are a lot of new faces but the core guys have been here for some time. There’s definitely some familiarity there.”
It’s a good bet the two exchange ideas about strategy and so forth in “tight situations.”
“That’s the time when the other team is looking to score,” York said. “We want to be out there in those situations.”
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