Some observers may not rank the significance of the Flyers’ new contract for Jamie Drysdale up there with the recent signings of Dan Vladar, Tyson Foerster and Trevor Zegras.
Yet upon closer look, year-to-year improved statistics could indicate otherwise.
Drysdale, the defenseman who just inked a new four-year, $26-million contract with the team, might be the team’s most mobile backliner and an important element if the Flyers are to turn around their dreadful power play.
Like with Zegras, the Flyers wanted to avoid salary arbitration with Drysdale and get the process completed before it fell out of their hands.
Now Drysdale can take comfort knowing his future is with a team which appears to be trending up, especially after last year’s surprising playoff run and victory in the first round over Pittsburgh.
Part of the reason the Flyers were better last season was because Drysdale was much improved himself. After a 2024-25 year in which he produced only 20 points and was a minus-32, the 24-year-old Toronto native bounced back to produce 32 points with a minus-3.
“I did not have a good year the year before,” he admitted on a Monday media Zoom call. “So that was part one of going into the season (2025-26) with a different mindset. Part two, just the staff, the coaches, teammates – so many people played a part in it. Just the encouragement, the belief from all aspects.
“It was a good year but I think there’s a lot more in the tank though.”
The Flyers really haven’t done much to improve their power play this summer. It’s a unit which has finished last in the NHL four of the last five seasons. So it looks like if those numbers are going to change, the improvement is going to have to come from the guys already on the roster.
As a so-called quarterback on the power play, Drysdale’s role can be crucial.
“That’s something I think I can improve on a lot to be successful,” he said. “I think there are a lot of little things I can work on when I get the puck. A little bit more deceptiveness. Shooting more. I’ve continuously worked on my shot over the last year. It’s something I’m confident with, can use as a weapon.”
Going into the season with a familiar cast should help Drysdale continue his upswing. There won’t be too many newcomers on this roster, so the comfort element figures to make things easier.
His pairing with Cam York midway through last season seemed to make for an efficient tandem.
“I’ve been fortunate, I’ve played with most of the group here for the last three or four years,” Drysdale said. “It’s just been exciting for us. Work together in the offseason, come back with high expectations.”
The new contract offers Drysdale financial stability for a number of years but it wasn’t so long ago when his future wasn’t quite so certain.
He had come over in a trade from Anaheim which saw the somewhat controversial Cutter Gauthier head west. Gauthier, a first-round draft pick by the Flyers, was highly regarded before he left town and there was a feeling that Drysdale would have to prove that the deal was worthwhile.
Last year’s production showed Flyers GM Daniel Briere he has nothing to regret in making the deal.
“Moving forward, it will continue to motivate me – I want to be the best player I can, for the team, the city, the fans,” Drysdale said. “I know I have a lot more to give. That’s exciting for me.
“I consider myself lucky. I think I lucked out with the city, the team, my teammates, the organization. The city itself, I love it.”
After surprising the NHL last season, the Flyers want to prove their turnaround is not a fluke. That can be a motivator itself.
“A hundred percent,” Drysdale said. “First of all, getting into the playoffs and then winning the first round. It’s a good steppingstone for us. Everyone is going to come in hungry.”
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