- Jamie Drysdale signed a four-year extension with the Flyers worth a $6.5 million cap hit
- The 24-year-old defenseman called it a relief and said Philadelphia is where he wants to be long term
- Read below for Drysdale’s full comments and what’s next for the Flyers blue line
Jamie Drysdale isn’t going anywhere.
The Flyers defenseman met with the media Monday after signing a four-year extension that carries a $6.5 million cap hit. He sounded like a guy glad to have it behind him.
Drysdale was asked how it felt to lock in his future in Philadelphia.
“It’s definitely a relief,” Drysdale said. “It went kind of smooth for the most part. Definitely relieved and just thrilled, excited. It’s the place I want to play for, you know, as long as I can, and so just super excited that I got four more years.”
Watch Drysdale meet the media after the signing:
That deal pulled Drysdale off the arbitration track and keeps him in Philadelphia through his prime. He was the centerpiece of the return when the Flyers sent Cutter Gauthier’s rights to Anaheim in January 2024.
He wasn’t the only former Duck to re-up. Trevor Zegras signed his own four-year extension last week, giving Daniel Briere two young pieces locked in.
Drysdale said the term never really moved during talks.
“It was kind of always in and around that ballpark from the start,” he said. “I think it was something that both sides were comfortable with. Philly’s a place that I love to play in. There’s no secret there. I’ll continuously say it.”
Last season was the best of his career offensively. Drysdale put up 32 points on 8 goals and 24 assists in 78 games, then chipped in four points in 10 playoff games.
On the power play, he runs the top unit, and it needs work. Philadelphia finished dead last in the NHL at 15.7 percent on the man advantage.
He talked about where he can take a step.
“I think that’s an area that I can improve on a lot and be successful in the league,” Drysdale said. “It’s definitely a point as a team. Making that better and getting it going a little bit will lead to a lot of success overall.”
Philadelphia made the deal official on Friday:
Four more years in orange and black, and a power play that can’t get much worse than last season’s.
