Egor Zamula, 24, competed for most of an NHL season for the first time in his career in 2023-2024. From 2020-2023, Zamula played 26 games. He found a role on the Philadelphia Flyers, complimenting veteran defenders and leading all Flyers defensemen in powerplay points (2G, 7A).
In 66 games, Zamula tallied 21 points (5G, 16A). He began stacking his statistics during the home opener in Philadelphia. The Flyers shut out the Vancouver Canucks, 2-0, in their first game at the Wells Fargo Center, and Zamula was responsible for the game-winning goal. But, like other players on the roster, Zamula was not safe from being labeled a healthy scratch at times.
The first time Zamula was a healthy scratch last season, John Tortorella opted to test a prospect, Emil Andrae, and his tried-and-true veteran defenseman, Marc Staal, against the Ottawa Senators. The same happened in a 4-1 win versus the Edmonton Oilers after Zamula secured the game-winner in the home opener at the Wells Fargo Center.
Tortorella provided a couple more opportunities to defensemen last season, including Victor Mete and Louie Belpedio, as Zamula was a healthy scratch in a 4-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on November 11th, 2023.
“Nobody wants to sit, so when I come back, I need to play my best game to stay in the lineup. It’s pretty much, for every sportsman, every hockey player. I want to be in the lineup every night and help my team to win; bring two points.” – Egor Zamula; 4/17/2024
It was not a loud talking point, like when Bobby Brink or Morgan Frost were healthy scratches, but the demand by Tortorella and his coaching staff remained. Consistency was the requirement, and Zamula battled to improve. He kept his head above water with a lot of competition in all directions, including the return of Rasmus Ristolainen. Peak defensive condition in Philadelphia last season resembled:
York-Sanheim
Seeler-Walker
Zamula-Ristolainen
Walker was expendable at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline after the Flyers acquired Jamie Drysdale earlier in the season once Cutter Gauthier took his puck to the Anaheim Ducks, setting up a potential defense ahead of 2024-2025:
York-Sanheim
Seeler-Drysdale
Zamula-Ristolainen
Before the end of last season, Zamula continued to grow with Erik Johnson. Johnson will assume the veteran role in Philadelphia next season, serving as the extra defenseman.
“Those guys [Staal and Johnson] with big experience in the league. It’s fun to play with these guys because sometimes he tell you something funny in the bench, after crazy shifts, especially with Staalsy. I will remember that. I can’t tell you what he says, but it’s something special, and I will remember these two guys for my life because it’s my first year, and I play with these people [with] this big experience. Old guys, but you see, still guys playing.” – Egor Zamula; 4/17/2024
On July 7th, 2024, Zamula agreed to a 2yr/$3.4mil extension. He enters the 2024 Flyers Training Camp as the odds-on favorite to anchor the third pair with Ristolainen. Prospects battling up the pipeline behind Zamula include Andrae, Adam Ginning, and Hunter McDonald.
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