In 2019, eight skaters from the American National Development Program found takers in the first round of the repechage, a vintage that began with the selection of Jack Hughes.
Midway through the session, the Philadelphia Flyers fell three spots following a trade with the Arizona Coyotes. After the selections of Matthew Boldy (12th, Minnesota) and Spencer Knight (13th, Florida), the Pennsylvania concession targeted a left-handed defender with an offensive talent that made the organization dream: Cam York. What some will remember especially from this decision is that his friend Cole Caufield was still awaiting his destiny in the stands at that time. The Montreal Canadiens rubbed their hands in 15th place.
• Read also: Caufield: the Flyers quickly questioned themselves, according to Michel Therrien
Three years later, the two former teammates of the American National Program have opposite professional paths. While the best attacker from the first round of an auction of the Marc Bergevin-Trevor Timmins era flourishes and raises the Montreal crowd, the other hopes for a call from the big club. supporters of theorange and black are also waiting for him.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ most productive skater with nine points in 11 games, the Californian is riding a three-game five-point streak in the American League, where Flyers decision-makers demoted him after a disappointing training camp – especially in the eyes of John Tortorella.
York and Caufield: don’t compare
Obviously, York is not Caufield and playing defense kills the comparison game, as his head coach insists.
“Defenders take longer to develop,” recalled Ian Laperrière during a telephone interview with TVASports.ca. Cole has scored goals all his life. I’ve seen players like that, but the question is whether he will continue for 82 games.
“A lot of people doubted Caufield his whole career. I was one. There are still doubts about him. We’ll see if he continues to score for 82 games,” he said, giving him credit nonetheless.
“He’s doing what’s hardest to do in the National League: scoring goals.”
Laperrière, whose outspokenness is still raw, says he hears York’s comparisons to Caufield “only in Quebec” and finds it necessary to defend his protege at this stage of his progress.
He is obviously not in agreement with the recent remarks of his former colleague Michel Therrien, namely that the Flyers regret their selection.
“He’s a 21-year-old defender. It can take five or six years to mature. “Yorkie” had an ordinary camp and he will be the first to say so, suggests the friendly instructor. What the organization wants from him is not to create an offensive by doing anything. We want him to be more committed defensively. When he returns to his territory to take the puck, for example. We want him to develop the notoriety of an NHL player.
Photo credit: AFP
“The truth is there were others ahead of him at camp and the best deal that could happen to him is to play for me. He gets big minutes, not seven minutes like he’s in the NHL. With us, he plays power play, shorthanded and five-on-five. Minors are made for that.
To know which of his players is closest to the Bettman circuit, Laperrière does not advance.
“None. I work on developing guys to play in the NHL. Not for them to spend five games there before being returned here. It’s easy to play five games on adrenaline, but that’s not the NHL. My goal is for them to leave and that we never see them again afterwards.
York wants his chance
If Tortorella, Laperrière and general manager Chuck Fletcher see a good eye on the plan to play York in the American League, the main interested party is doing his best to prove the Flyers right for having set their sights on him.
Even with veteran Ryan Ellis injured, his NHL tally has stagnated at 33 games.
“It’s upsetting, no doubt,” York admitted in a recent interview with TVA Sports.ca. I’m a laid back guy. If someone says bad things about my game or if there are people who ask me to change, I have confidence in my means. I don’t worry about everything. I continue to make my way. If I get called back, I’ll be fine.”
It is precisely this character trait that Tortorella would like to see changed in York. If his potential and his toolbox make him a promising project, senior management wants him to have more aggressiveness and character in his game.
Laperrière, who wore the colors of the Los Angeles Kings from 1996 to 2004, points out that Californians are naturally more “relaxed” than the average and that this character trait may suggest that they are dragging their feet: “he has grew up at the beach. He is more relaxed. We can’t tell him to be too intense, that would be “fake”. We will not ask him to be someone else, ”he explains.
“Obviously I feel a bit of that pressure, York admits candidly. I try not to think about it. I’m trying to get better and nothing else matters to me outside of that goal.”
York also admits that the decision to cut him was hard on his morale after he believed in his chances of breaking through the formation of the Flyers.
“It’s not news you want to hear. I’m not crying over my fate, I’m getting to work to get back up as soon as possible. I’m going to keep doing what I’m asked to do and we’ll see what happens.”
What exactly was he asked to tweak when he announced his demotion?
“They want the games to come to me and for me to be more aggressive. I have to contribute offensively and stop more plays defensively. I’m doing well so far this year. I have to work on these things to earn a callback.”
In the same boat as Justin Barron
York’s case is somewhat similar to that of Justin Barron, whom he has faced twice in the past 10 days. Expected with optimism at camp, the Acadian fullback has been inconsistent in his performance in the preparatory calendar and he is gaining ground in Laval after experiencing some disappointment with his demotion.
On the other hand, if the decision of the CH was foreseeable with regard to Barron, that which awaited York caused a certain surprise to Philly.
“It’s hard to digest at the time, says York. As the days pass, you realize that you have to keep working to break into the pros. It’s not the end of the world if you have the right attitude and work hard every day.
“Barron is a good player. Defense is a difficult position. You spend a lot of minutes facing the best players, the good game makers. With the right mentality, you pull out of the game, ”analyzes the one who picked up Saturday, in Lehigh Valley, a fourth point in two games against the Rocket this season.
Photo credit: AFP
When the Phantoms were in Laval on Nov. 5, York was unable to watch Caufield’s electrifying performance against the Vegas Golden Knights due to time constraints. While waiting to be able to face him, he follows his prowess with wonder: “I often text him when I see the plays he has made in a match. I tell him “good match”. He has great talent and he is a good friend.
During this trip to the club-school of the Canadians, it is especially the home of the Rocket that caught his attention. He ended the game with a goal in overtime.
“It was a fun game (in Laval). This amphitheater is really cool! It’s nice to have an NHL-like atmosphere with music and entertainment. It’s different from the other arenas where we play. The fans really know the hockey there.”
Laperrière also appreciated the only visit of the year of his troop in the city of the Cosmodôme. The 48-year-old man also started the conversation with the author of these lines by praising Place Bell.
“It’s an incredible place. There is something to be proud of being a Quebecer when you see that, he exclaims. The music is a little loud, but maybe that’s because I’m old!
“It’s better than hearing me scream at least!” he laughs.
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The double challenge of Ian Laperrière
Cam York is one of the prospects that Ian Laperrière has the mission to develop with the Phantoms, in his second season as head coach in the American League. In this circuit, he lives with a double challenge on a daily basis.
The man who played 1,083 games in the NHL over nearly 16 seasons must devote himself to teaching, but the owners of the franchise, who are not the same as the Flyers, also want results on the ice.
“The owners want to win. They want to fill the stands. The Flyers want me to develop young people. I try to please both. I have five first-year players on my power play… five! Not many teams go through that.
“It’s my job and I knew it when I accepted the job. You have to bring victories to the owners and develop the young people, as we do with York.
Like many modern instructors, psychology takes an important place in Laperrière’s approach. No question of shouting loudly or smashing sticks in the locker room as Mike Keenan did at the time “to seek emotion”. Other times, other customs.
Photo credit: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
“I’m not comfortable being too hard on my players because it doesn’t work. They’re going to crumble, so I want to find other ways than making Keenans out of myself. There are other ways to approach this. We have a great system, you have to bring passion to it.”
Laperrière quotes a model on which he molds his style: “I really liked Craig Berube. He likes to be frank with his players. I also try to be frank. Me, when I was playing, I didn’t like when a coach told us bullshit and thought we didn’t know what he was telling us was wrong.”
York says he appreciates his pilot’s style and honesty.
“He’s a nice coach. We learn a lot with him and as the season progresses, we become better and better.
“There is nothing easy with ‘Lappy’. During training as in the gym, you have to give your 100% with him. Otherwise, he won’t be impressed.”