Pedigree of an NHL defenseman – York poised to develop into top-four role

Can you think of a time when the professional hockey team you support was in the market for a top-four defenseman?

I’m sure you can.

No matter how old you are or how long you’ve been following hockey, I’m sure this task is simple to accomplish. There’s even a good chance that your favorite team is in the market for one at this very moment.

Defensemen that can effectively produce in a top-four role with consistency are always in high demand. Along with starting-caliber goaltending and top-line centers, it is one of the most sought-after roles in hockey.

With top-four blueliners seemingly always in high demand, it is easy to imagine how costly it is to obtain one. In the National Hockey League, both teams and players alike are aware of this league-wide need and aren’t afraid to drive up the asking price, either via trade or free agency. Knowing that acquiring an NHL-ready defenseman that fits the top-four description will likely cost them an arm and a leg, general managers must plan ahead and look to the entry draft to acquire what they need.

Enter Cam York of USA Hockey Nation Team Development Program.

York, an Anaheim Hills, California native, is a product of Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minnesota. This institution is known for assisting in the development of NHL-quality hockey players. An entire article could be devoted to Shattuck-St. Mary’s alumn. Stars of the sport such as Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Nathan MacKinnon all laced their skates for the school. Of course, not everyone that played hockey for Shattuck-St. Mary’s went on to light the NHL on fire. However, it’s a tremendous primary step in the direction towards accomplishing that goal.

Now with the USNTDP, York’s greatest strengths lie in the offensive zone. He is an incredible puck handler from the point that can find the open man with a crisp and accurate pass. Additionally, he has both the skill and confidence necessary to shake his defender and create offense. In his 2019 NHL Mock Draft 1.0, Steve Kournianos of The Draft Analyst identifies York’s strengths as “elite playmaking, heavy-shooting, and fluid skating ability.” Kournianos also applauds York’s passing, calling him a “very hard passer from anywhere on the ice.”

With York’s current set of skills, it’s easy to picture him succeeding in power-play situations. His poise and control of the puck can make him a capable quarterback on the power play. His strong shot adds an extra weapon to his arsenal, making him someone opposing teams always need to keep an eye on.

In today’s NHL, offensive abilities for defensemen is almost a must. The idea of a “stay at home” defenseman is practically dead as teams expect their blueliners to be assets in the offensive zone and produce points. Just look at the past winners of the Norris Memorial Trophy. The only time a blueliner has won the NHL award for the top defenseman and recorded less than 50 points in the last 30 years was P.K. Subban in 2012-13. Of course, that was a lockout year, and the dynamic defenseman posted 38 points in 48 games. Before that, the last defenseman to record less than 50 points and win the Norris Memorial Trophy was Rod Langway in 1983-84. Luckily for York, all of this makes him a very intriguing prospect come draft time.

Unfortunately, expectations for defensemen still involve being able to defend. Even if a blueliner is blessed with incredible offensive skill, an inability to defend successfully can make him a liability. This is still an area of York’s game that needs improvement. There are times where he overcommits and ends up getting beat by the opposing player with the puck. It is easy to tell that he is eager to take away the puck and create an offensive opportunity for his team. However, this sometimes can lead to the other team receiving a quality chance to put the puck in the back of the net. York needs to relax a bit more on defense and set himself up in a position where he is better suited to contest the opposition effectively.

At 17-years-old, York still has plenty of time to work out the kinks in his game. As long as he dedicates the necessary work to the defensive aspect of his game, he will see improvements in those areas.

As of now, York appears to be projected to go in somewhere in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Of the various scouting rankings, Future Considerations has him ranked the highest at #11, but all of the organizations have him ranked somewhere before 20. In Kournianos’s mock draft, he has York going 17th-overall to the New York Rangers. To me, that seems about right. However, all he needs to show is signs of improvement on defense, and York will start creeping up the draft board.

Cam York is having a solid season thus far, posting 26 points in 36 games. He has committed to playing for the University of Michigan and will begin his college hockey career next season. York will look to join the likes of Dylan Larkin, Max Pacioretty, Kyle Connor, Jacob Trouba, and Zach Werenski as former Wolverines experiencing success at the professional level.

In an age where offensive-defensemen that can log a lot of minutes are at a premium, look for Cam York to garner a lot of attention as the draft draws closer. There is a strong possibility that he can take away a franchise’s need for a top-four defenseman.