Travis Sanheim, a defenseman for the Flyers, recently received his second Barry Ashbee Trophy as the team’s leading blueliner. He bounced back from a lackluster performance in the previous season and arguably had the best overall season of his NHL career so far in 2023-24.

Like many athletes, Sanheim’s successful season began with arriving at training camp in peak physical condition. Last summer, he built up his muscle mass and successfully completed the intensely challenging training camp, which head coach John Tortorella considers key to a successful subsequent season.

Danny Briere, the general manager of the Flyers who was recalled, said, “In terms of fitness, he was one of the most well-conditioned players to appear and his preseason performance really excited us.”

In the 2023-24 season, Sanheim set new personal records for a single season in offensive production, scoring 10 goals and 34 assists, totalling 44 points. He topped the list of all Flyers players with an average ice time of 23:48 per game. Remarkably, in the first two months of the season, only John Carlson, a defenseman for the Washington Capitals, exceeded Sanheim’s average ice time of 25:55 per game among all NHL position players, with an average of 26:01.

Over his NHL career, Sanheim has played both left and right defense, but he has predominantly been on the left side of his pairings in recent years. However, this changed in the 2023-24 season when he almost exclusively played on the right side. This switch allowed Cam York, the 2019 first-round pick, to play on the left side where he is much more at ease.

Over the past year, a significant development was the enhanced relationship and increased trust between Sanheim and head coach John Tortorella. Tortorella himself acknowledged that their first season together in 2022-23 had its challenges. However, through open and honest dialogues, they managed to strengthen their understanding of each other’s needs, improving their relationship significantly.

“Tortorella expressed his desire for an elevated standard early last October. He clarified that Sanny wasn’t resisting this; on the contrary, he was making an effort to reach it. However, he admitted it was somewhat of a challenge,” he said.

Sanheim added for his part, “It wasn’t a matter of him not liking me or us not getting along, but rather we needed to become acquainted with each other.”

Sanheim shrugged off trade rumors last summer as he was entering the inaugural season of his multi-year extension. He bolstered his communication with the head coach and concentrated fully on preparing for the season.

While the results were pleasing, the season’s ending was a disappointment for everyone on the team.

“Sanheim expressed, “Our affection for the group is quite strong and we never wanted it to end. Every day we arrived at the rink was a day we loved and enjoyed. I believe this is positive and something we can carry into the future.”

Everyone was disappointed with how the season ended for the team, despite the results being gratifying.

“Sanheim expressed his affection for the team and his reluctance for it to come to an end. He stated that they enjoyed every day at the rink and saw this as a positive aspect they could carry forward,” he said.

Reflecting on last season’s events during Exit Day, Sanheim expressed his belief that there had been significant overall progress. He specifically noted the development of his partnership with York as a highlight.

“Yorkie and I were fully committed to that. We wanted to shoulder a significant part of it. It’s clearly disappointing how it ended. However, for the most part, I’m quite satisfied with how Yorkie and I performed, even down the stretch,” said Sanheim.

Saheim, who is currently 28 years old and will turn 29 on March 29, 2025, is set to reach a significant milestone in his NHL career during the 2024-25 season – playing in his 500th game. At present, he has participated in 497 games. It has been a decade since the native of Elkhorn, Manitoba was selected as the 17th overall pick by the Flyers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia.

“Reflecting on it now, it’s quite remarkable that I was drafted right here in Philly by the very same team I was going to play for,” Sanheim reminisced last year during his appearance on the Flyers Daily podcast. “It’s not a common experience for many players, so it’s definitely a memory I’ve held onto and something my family deeply appreciates.”

Over the last decade, a lot has changed for Sanheim.

He has evolved from a young teenager in the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen to a seasoned veteran leader for the NHL’s Flyers. On the ice, he has matured remarkably. He has also built close relationships with a generation of teammates in the Flyers system, hoping to maintain lifelong friendships no matter where their hockey careers lead them. This is particularly true for Travis Konecny, who is virtually inseparable from Sanheim. Off the ice, Sanheim recently tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Alex, in Manitoba.

Sanheim, coming off his best season yet and with seven years left on his contract, has a fairly high level of job security for the foreseeable future. Instead of dwelling on a past disappointing season, he can now aim to surpass his achievements from 2023-24.

Sanheim is currently at the peak of his NHL career. In order for the Flyers’ reconstruction efforts to progress towards restoring the team as a credible playoff contender, Sanheim needs to be a key contributor.