Philly Leader

Egor Zamula, a 24-year-old defenseman, completed his first full season with the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 2023-24 season. Throughout 66 games, Zamula scored five goals and recorded 21 points, maintaining a plus-three rating while averaging 16:03 of ice time.

Zamula periodically participated in power plays and was a semi-regular on the third defense pairing at 5-on-5. His nine power play points (two goals and seven assists) were second only to Morgan Frost's eleven for the team lead. Travis Konecny also produced nine power play points.

Before last season, Zamula split his time between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms over three seasons. He played 26 NHL games and 127 AHL games, scoring five goals and accumulating 49 points. Despite being unselected in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he was signed as a free agent on September 18, 2018, after impressing during a training camp tryout.

Zamula has adjusted well to North American professional hockey both on and off the ice. Formerly of the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League (WHL), he now speaks fluent English and no longer requires an interpreter for interviews. Known for his energetic and humorous personality, he is popular among teammates.

Flyers assistant coach Brad Shaw praised Zamula’s dedication: "One of the biggest positives with 'Z' is that he wants to learn," Shaw said on March 17. "He's coachable and he is diligent in his approach."

Head coach John Tortorella also commended Zamula's athleticism and accuracy from the point but noted areas for improvement: "The American League is a hell of a good league [but] you have an extra split second to read a play and react. It's just a little bit quicker up in the NHL." Tortorella emphasized that consistency in playing faster is crucial for Zamula's development.

Reflecting on his progress last season, Zamula noted incremental improvements: "I would say the first ten games you're playing with a lot of energy and emotion... After Game 30, 35, I started growing and felt more comfortable."

In the offseason, Zamula signed a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.7 million. Entering training camp, he faces competition from Adam Ginning, Ronnie Attard, and Emil Andrae for top-six roles. Both Zamula and Attard are not exempt from waivers.

Assuming health across the roster, Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, Nick Seeler are likely to be among the top four defensemen starting this season. Veteran Erik Johnson is expected to fill Marc Staal's former No.7 role while Rasmus Ristolainen will play on the right side of a regular pair.

Zamula’s experience adjusting to NHL life could benefit rookie Matvei Michkov this season due to their similar personalities and Zamula’s bilingual ability aiding Michkov's assimilation into North American hockey culture.

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