After Battling Through Adversity Last Season, Flyers Travis Sanheim Is Ready To Make An Impact
Last season was the season Flyers defense prospect, Travis Sanheim, was supposed to break-out. The year where Sanheim would put his name with Shayne Gostisbehere and Ivan Provorov as the backbones to the Flyers young defense core. Except, that didn’t happen.
Instead, Sanheim, who made the team out of camp, battled through struggles and what seemed like endless press-box visits. Sanheim was sat over veteran defenseman Brandon Manning and was outplayed by fellow rookie Robert Hagg.
In the first stint before being sent down, Sanheim played in 35 out of the first 43 games. But, he would then sit out a stretch of 10 straight games before being sent down to the Phantoms.
“Last year was a big learning experience. Understanding the difficulties of being a full timer in the NHL. Having to go down there (Phantoms) and regain my confidence, work hard, and put in that work trying to get back up here (Flyers). You can go down there (Phantoms) and sulk. But I went down there motivated to get right back up here and help this team.”
After being sent down to the Phantoms, Travis Sanheim did nothing but impress. Sanheim didn’t play bad in the NHL. However, he was a rookie in a mens league making costly mistakes. One of the reasons for his extended press-box visit.
However, instead of sulking, Sanheim put his head down and put his best foot forward to get back to the Flyers.
With the Phantoms, Sanheim made impression after impression after impression. During this time, Sanheim was averaging over 23 minutes a night for the Phantoms. Was used extensively on the power-play and penalty kill. But, also found his way back to the point sheet, which was a mute point during his first 35 games in the NHL. Sanheim scored 1 goal and added 15 assists during his 18 games with the Phantoms.
“I went down (Phantoms) to get back to where I was previously. Understanding I could play at that level (NHL). And know that I could have success at that level. I think when I went down there, I played a ton of minutes and just played my game. Did what I do best and when I got the call back up, one of the biggest things mentality was just remember what I was doing down there, forget who I was playing against and just stick to my game.”
Do what he does best is exactly what Sanheim did during his assignment to the Phantoms. But, when the Flyers needed him the most, Travis Sanheim was ready to help out the big club.
With injuries to waiver claim pickup, Johnny Oduya, and fellow rookie, Robert Hagg, the Flyers were in need of another defenseman. After impressing in his assignment to the Lehigh Valley, Travis Sanheim was recalled and ready to help the Flyers.
“It was unfortunate how I came back up with some of the injuries to the d-men. But, I was fortunate to come up and then play well enough to get a full recall and play the rest of the season.”
After his recall, Travis Sanheim shined. His scoring showed up. HIs all around play was better. The time he spent in Lehigh Valley was like a breath of fresh air and Sanheim looked faster and rejuvenated in his second stint with the Flyers.
This led to regular minutes with the Flyers. Time on the power-play. And, best of all, a new found faith by head coach Dave Hakstol. Something Sanheim had been looking for since the start of training camp.
“He just looked like a guy who got his game back a little bit and that’s the benefit of being able to go down and play strong minutes down there in different situations.” Hakstol said after Sanheim’s first game back after his recall. “That’s all a credit to him. It’s all how you handle the assignment going back there. He dug in immediately from what I am told from day one and played extremely well right from the start down there. Like I said it just looks like a guy who absolutely has his game back. He is a good player for us tonight and he helped us win.”
During his second stint with the Flyers, Travis Sanheim averaged over 21 + minutes a night. A big improvement from his average, 18 + minutes, to start the season. His point scoring came back. Generating just 1 goal and 4 assists in his first 35 games, Sanheim scored a goal and added 4 assists in just 14 games.
Even though the Flyers post-season was cut short, Travis Sanheim went back down to the Phantoms to help with their post-season run. And, boy did he.
Sanheim was paired with Philippe Myers for the Phantoms post-season run. A pairing that many Flyers fans would love to see in the NHL one day. Sanheim and Myers would go on to lead all Phantoms in ice time, both averaging over 25 + minutes a night. Both adding a scoring touch to the Phantoms lineup. And, finally being the go to guys in late game situations for Phantoms Head Coach Scott Gordon.
“I think Phil and I have a lot of similarities. He likes to get up into the play. Play up with the offense and he has a really good skillset. To be able to play with a guy that feeds off you and you feed off him and you can communicate well with each other. Just kind of work together good as a pair, you know the way it should be. Just get the puck back up the ice to the forwards and be able to join in and create some offense.”
Coming into this season, Sanheim was seen as the biggest benefactor from the departure of Brandon Manning. Sanheim was seen as Manning’s replacement in the lineup. And, from the start it looked like that.
However, Sanheim got injured in the Flyers 3rd pre-season game. Islanders Matt Martin checked Sanheim hard into the boards from behind. Martin was given a penalty for boarding. But, the bigger problem was Sanheim left the game favoring his left shoulder.
Sanheim has not stepped onto the ice since that game. Something that is causing him to potential lose his spot to rookie standout, Philippe Myers. In Sanheim’s absence, Myers has gotten an extended look by the Flyers and has done nothing but impress.
With his injury, Sanheim is battling through adversity once again. But, after he gets healthy, Travis Sanheim is here to stay and ready to make an impact in any way possible he can.