Why The Drysdale Extension With the Flyers Is A Win For Both Sides

The Philadelphia Flyers have extended Jamie Drysdale for 4 years on a deal worth $26 million, $6.5 million annually. It comes following a breakout season for the defenseman, where he took great strides on both sides of the puck.

Drysdale, 24, was acquired by the Flyers as the primary return in the Cutter Gauthier trade in January 2024. The former 2020 6th overall pick by the Ducks was once one of the top defensive prospects in the sport before an injury-riddled young career set the player back. Drysdale became a project, but is showing signs of being a promising top-4 defender in the NHL.

Like his friend and former Ducks teammate Trevor Zegras, Drysdale re-upped for 4 years in Philly, a contract that will walk him to unrestricted free agency in the prime of his career. That is exactly why the deal is a win for him.

Why the Extension is a Win for Jamie Drysdale

If Drysdale can continue to take the strides that he took this past season, it could set him up quite nicely in 2030 when he is eligible for a new deal.

The Flyers defenseman set a career high with 8 goals in 2025-26 and matched his career high of 32 points, a number he hit in his only other season with 75+ games played. His 24 assists were 4 shy of his career mark set in that other 32-point year in 2021-22.

Again, the breakout had less to do with Drysdale’s offensive game, and more to do with the massive growth he showed as a defender.

He averaged 21:33 in time on ice during his 78 games this past season, making it the busiest year of his career. The young defender used his speed this season to become a reliable backchecker. There is still work to be done as a defender. But Drysdale showed great growth in the defensive zone, especially with his stick.

On the offensive side, Drysdale led all Flyers’ defensemen with 9 power-play points this past season, with a goal and 8 assists. He was second to Travis Sanheim, 37, in points for defensemen on the team.

Why the Extension is a Win for the Flyers

Drysdale has shown his promise and now has a chance to continue growing in his role.

For the Flyers, getting a young defenseman locked up at $6.5 million a year is a great deal. Considering Bowen Byram’s $12.5 million AAV with Chicago, Brandt Clarke’s $7.4 million AAV in Los Angeles, and Pavel Mintyukov’s $7.2 million with Anaheim, Drysdale’s extension feels like it is much lower than it could have been.

As for the term, it’s a little different than Zegras. I still would have much rather locked Zegras up longer term. He has a little less to prove than Drysdale, in my opinion. To me, Drysdale is a Top-4 defender as things stand. I think there is still more for him to unlock, including a potential top-pair role.

The 4-year term gives Drysdale time to show whether or not he can reach that potential. If he does, teh Flyers will have teh chance to lock him up before he even reaches the market. In the event that he does not hit that potential, the Flyers aren’t hitched to a massive contract for longer than 4 seasons.

Drysdale does have a limited 6-team no-trade clause in 2028. He also has a 4-team clause in 2029, which would become manageable if need be.

But, at the end of the day, Drysdale’s deal comes in well under the market value. The cost would only grow if the deal was signed after a Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar extension, which will certainly reset the defensive market.

To me, this is a long prove-it deal for Drysdale. He has all of the tools to be a really good defenseman. Between his offensive abilities, skating, speed, and improved defensive game, there is a really good player there. If he can put it all together, this deal is an absolute steal for the Flyers.

Now, Philly has just a hair under $14 million in cap space to work with. It gives them a ton of flexibility.

What do you think of Drysdale’s extension?

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