Jamie Drysdale isn’t just playing well this season — he’s beginning to establish himself as a core piece of the Flyers’ rebuild, and head coach Rick Tocchet’s comments after their win over the Avalanche quietly reinforced that.
Jamie Drysdale has been a key piece in this team’s defensive core, completely turning around his game since he was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Cutter Gauthier. The former first-round draft pick was thrust into the NHL as a young 18-year-old kid who did not get properly developed. That was quickly evident when he came over from Anaheim. The skills were all there – specifically his skating – but the then 21-year-old needed to put it all together.
With the help of Brad Shaw and John Tortorella, Drysdale worked on his defensive game and began to turn his career around. Now, the 23-year-old is a mainstay in the Flyers’ defensive top four, and has already 20 points – the same total he had last year – in 23 fewer games, totaling three goals and 17 assists over 47 games. Drysdale is on pace to eclipse his career-high of 32 points this season and continues to impress visually. His work along the boards has improved, and his defensive game has grown exponentially. His hard work is being rewarded by advanced stats as well.
Since coming over from Anaheim, the young defenseman’s on-ice expected goals percentage has increased from 38.6 percent to 54.9 percent this season, according to MoneyPuck. He’s averaging 21 minutes and 18 seconds of time on ice per game, which ranks just below Cam York and Travis Sanheim. His game has undoubtedly improved over the last three years with the Flyers, but what’s becoming increasingly evident is his role as a quiet leader in the room.
Rick Tocchet’s comments on Drysdale after the Avs game
After the Flyers defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 in Denver Friday night, Rick Tocchet, in his post game interview, specifically called out the 23-year-old defenseman as one of a few players who spoke up on the bench during the game.
Jamie 🥲
(quote via @charlieo_conn) pic.twitter.com/0mZwLgEFAC
— PHLY Flyers (@PHLY_Flyers) January 24, 2026
The Flyers’ young defenseman is beginning to find his voice in the locker room, an encouraging development for a player viewed as a key piece of the rebuild. Head coach Rick Tocchet has clearly shown confidence in the former first-round pick, deploying him in key situations, including as the quarterback on the first power play unit.
That growth matters. As the Flyers look to build their next core of young leaders, it’s important to see guys starting to take on leadership roles within the locker room. Players like Jamie Drysdale, Cam York, and Trevor Zegras are expected to be key figures in this rebuild, and seeing them step up as they continue to mature is a positive sign.
If the Flyers are going to turn the corner from rebuilding to contending, that culture shift will be driven by this group. How players like Drysdale, York, and Zegras lead — both on the ice and in the locker room — will go a long way toward defining the identity of the Flyers’ next era.