Flyers Notebook: Aggression has turned into assists for Cam York

The highest assist total Cam York has ever accrued in an NHL season is 20. This season, he already has eight in 11 games.

Luck of the draw? Right place at the right time? Fortunate bounces?

It might have a lot more to do with him being more aggressive and the way new coach Rick Tocchet is using him in the game plan.

The 24-year-old defenseman has been given more freedom in different situations. He’s allowed to carry the puck deeper into the offensive zone, and that’s led to setting up forwards for quality scoring chances. He’s also getting more power-play time than he did under former coach John Tortorella, at 1:54 per game this year compared to just nine seconds last year. And he’s returned to being a steady partner for top defenseman Travis Sanheim on the No. 1 pairing.

It all adds up to a positive situation, or one that’s at least better for York than under the last regime.

“I feel comfortable,” York said recently. “I think there’s a better plan. I think the pre-game scouting is better … than it has been in past years. I think this is a good opportunity.”

Tocchet likes what he’s seen so far.

“I want him to be aggressive,” the coach said before Friday’s optional practice at the Flyers Training Center. “He’s playing against top lines, the penalty kill. What I like about him is – it happened last night (at Nashville), he’s on the blue line, a guy is about four or five feet away from him, he didn’t just get the puck and reset it into the corner.

“He made a move at the blue line, kind of juked the guy, then made a play to a player who was a better offensive option for us instead of just throwing it in the corner and mucking it again. He was actually aggressive at the blue line. It has to be calculated but those are the things I noticed.”

Tocchet didn’t want to compare him to star defenseman, Quinn Hughes, whom he coached in Vancouver. But there are a few signs.

“He (York) has got that ‘I want the puck,’” Tocchet said. “Like, ‘I’m going to try to make a play.’ I saw that last night.”

York set a career-high with three assists in a 5-2 win over Seattle on Oct. 20.

• • •

After going winless in their first three road games, the Flyers bounced back this week to take wins in Montreal and Nashville, evening their mark away from home at 2-2-1.

Did the two-game sweep reestablish some confidence playing away from Xfinity Mobile Arena?

“I think so,” Tocchet said. “Obviously learning experiences when you win are easier than when you’re losing. I don’t think anyone was happy with those last two games of our homestand. But to go into Montreal, a hot team, give up a lead, be resilient … same thing in Nashville, they were all over us the first period. We could have crumbled but the guys held it together. That’s what I like, that we didn’t wilt when things didn’t go our way.”

• • •

Goaltender Dan Vladar went through a rough patch before the road trip but was back to form in Nashville with 23 saves in a 3-1 win.

Vladar doesn’t seem to get down on himself, no matter how dire the circumstances.

“He’s a vocal guy but he’s a team guy,” Tocchet observed. “After the Montreal game he said, ‘hey, thanks guys.’ He knew he needed help in that one. But it was almost like ‘I’m going to reset myself, I’m ready.’ I like that stuff. Most starts he’s given us a chance to win.”

As of Friday afternoon, the Flyers were fifth in the NHL in goals-against average at 2.57 and ninth in save percentage at .906. Vladar ranks second in the NHL in GAA at 2.18 and fifth in save percentage at .917.

“I just like his character,” Tocchet said. “He comes over to the bench and says ‘I’m good. I’m good.’ Rather than “hey, I’m getting peppered over here.’ Like the guy in ‘Slapshot,’ the French goalie.”