Travis Sanheim
Born (1996-03-29) March 29, 1996
Elkhorn, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team Philadelphia Flyers
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 17th overall, 2014
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 2016–present

Travis Sanheim (born March 29, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Sanheim was selected by the Flyers in the first round, 17th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Early life

Both Travis and his fraternal twin brother Taylor Sanheim were born on March 29, 1996, to Kent and Shelley Sanheim.[2] The Sanheim family ran a farm in Elkhorn, Manitoba, where Travis and Taylor were born, raised, and worked through their childhoods and adolescence.[3] Both brothers began playing minor ice hockey with the Yellowhead Chiefs in the Manitoba U-18 'AAA' Hockey League: while Taylor was on the wing, Travis would play defense.[4] Although he eventually grew to be 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), Sanheim was often smaller than many of his minor hockey opponents, and in response, he learned how to skate and think faster to counterbalance his smaller size.[5]

Playing career

Junior

The Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) selected Sanheim in the ninth round, 177th overall, of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. He debuted with the team for the 2013–14 season and had a difficult adjustment period, coupled by a late growth spurt, that limited Sanheim to only three points through his first 21 games of the season.[2] He found his footing when paired defensively with Ben Thomas and received more playing time beginning in December after an injury to captain Jaynen Rissling. By the end of his rookie season, Sanheim had 29 points and a +25 plus–minus through 67 junior ice hockey games.[6] That summer, the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Sanheim in the first round, 17th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.[7]

Sanheim attended both the Flyers' rookie and general training camps in 2014, and appeared in one preseason game, before returning to Calgary for the 2014–15 WHL season. He also signed an entry-level contract with Philadelphia just before the WHL and NHL seasons began.[8] His sophomore season in the WHL proved to be a breakout, with 15 goals and 65 points in 67 games.[9] Although he led all defensemen with 39 points through the first 41 games of the season, Sanheim found additional success starting in January when he was paired with Jake Bean, another offensively-minded defenseman.[10] Through the remainder of their respective junior hockey careers, Sanheim and Bean served as primary scorers, as well as penalty killers, for a team that often lacked elite forwards.[11] In the postseason, Sanheim scored the game-winning, double-overtime goal for the Hitmen to advance them past the Medicine Hat Tigers and into the Eastern Conference Finals for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.[12] The Brandon Wheat Kings ultimately defeated the Hitmen in five games of the conference finals.[13]

With a number of the Hitmen's playoff core leaving the team for the NHL just before the 2015–16 season, Sanheim, who was returned to the team after another training camp with Philadelphia, became a veteran presence for Calgary.[14] He led all WHL defensemen in scoring with 22 points through the first 18 games of the season before suffering an upper-body injury in a game against the Prince Albert Raiders at the start of November.[15] He missed nearly the entire month, returning on November 30 with a goal and an assist in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Regina Pats.[16] Sanheim missed another stretch of games at the turn of the calendar year, during which time he was representing Canada at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. In his absence, Calgary appointed his twin brother Taylor as a temporary alternate captain.[17] Despite missing a total of 15 regular season games, Sanheim finished his final season of junior hockey with 15 goals and 68 points, and he led all Canadian Hockey League (CHL) defensemen in points per game.[2] Sanheim's junior hockey career ended when the Red Deer Rebels swept the Hitmen in the first round of 2016 WHL playoffs.[18]

Professional

After the Hitmen's season ended, Sanheim joined the Flyers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, for the final stretch of their 2015–16 season.[19] He appeared in four games for the Phantoms, recording three points in the process.[20] Sanheim returned to the Phantoms for the 2016–17 AHL season, where he and his defensive pair Samuel Morin worked with assistant coach Kerry Huffman in order to heighten the physical aspect of their game for an older, larger group of skaters.[21] While Sanheim's offensive abilities were already strong from his junior career, his work with Huffman helped Sanheim to develop his overall game. He did not score a goal until December, but through 63 games, Sanheim had both scored 10 goals and 29 points and he carried a +7 plus-minus.[22] He finished the year with 10 goals and 37 points in 76 AHL games. All but one of these goals were at full strength, as T. J. Brennan was the Phantoms' main power play defenseman.[23]

Sanheim made Philadelphia's final roster out of training camp and started the 2017–18 season in the NHL.[24] He scored his first NHL goal on December 14, 2017, in his 28th NHL game, to help the Flyers defeat the Buffalo Sabres 2–1.[25] He was reassigned to Philadelphia's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, on January 22, 2018, but was later recalled on March 9 due to an injury to Robert Hägg.[24][26] Sanheim made his Stanley Cup playoff debut during the first round of the 2018 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[27] He recorded his first career playoff goal on April 15 in a 5–1 loss to the Penguins.[28] The Flyers ended up losing to the Penguins in six games, after which Sanheim was loaned to the Phantoms to help them with their run in the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs.[29]

On June 24, 2019, Sanheim signed a new two-year, $6.5 million contract.[30]

Sanheim and his defensive mate Philippe Myers were two of the young Flyers to struggle in the protracted 2020–21 season, during which Philadelphia went 25-23-8. The loss of veteran presence in Matt Niskanen particularly affected many of the team's young defenders, as Alain Vigneault struggled to find a stable top pairing for Ivan Provorov.[31] Sanheim was also the first Flyer to test positive for the COVID-19 virus during a team outbreak that February. Although he did not experience any significant symptoms, he was forced to isolate from February 7 to 18.[32] The 2020–21 season proved to be the worst of Sanheim's career thus far, as he dropped to only three goals, 15 points, and a –22 rating while skating in all but one of the 56 games in the shortened season.[33] Although statistically Sanheim's defensive performance was similar to seasons prior, his mistakes tended to be costlier during the 2020–21 season, with his turnovers and positioning leading more often to goals against than they had earlier in his NHL career.[34]

Sanheim, a restricted free agent going into the 2021–22 season, successfully avoided contract arbitration on August 21, when he signed a two-year contract extension that carried an average annual value of $4.675 million.[35] As Myers had been traded to the Nashville Predators over the summer, Sanheim's new partner on the second defensive line was Rasmus Ristolainen, who the Flyers had received in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres.[36]

On October 13, 2022, Sanheim signed an 8-year, $50 million extension that would keep him in Philadelphia through 2031.[37]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championship
Silver medal – second place2022 Finland
World U18 Championship
Bronze medal – third place2015 Finland

Sanheim was chosen to compete with the Canada Western squad at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge,[38] and he led Canada to capture the bronze medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships (WJC-18).[39] At the WJC-18, Sanheim led all defencemen with six points, and was named one of Canada's top three players in the tournament,[40] also earning recognition as the tournament's best defenceman.[41]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13Winkler FlyersMJHL—————60112
2013–14Calgary HitmenWHL67524291461126
2014–15Calgary HitmenWHL6715506552175131810
2015–16Calgary HitmenWHL521553686651568
2015–16Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL41230—————
2016–17Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL761027374650332
2017–18Philadelphia FlyersNHL4928102041012
2017–18Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL18115161071234
2018–19Philadelphia FlyersNHL829263522—————
2019–20Philadelphia FlyersNHL698172532161676
2020–21Philadelphia FlyersNHL553121523—————
2021–22Philadelphia FlyersNHL807243134—————
NHL totals3352987116131202688

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Canada Western U17 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 0 1 1 2
2014 Canada U18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 0 6 6 0
2016 Canada WJC 6th 5 0 1 1 0
2022 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 1 3 4 0
Junior totals 17 0 8 8 2
Senior totals 10 1 3 4 0

Awards and honours

Honours Year
World U-17 Hockey Challenge champion 2013 [42]
IIHF World U18 Championship best defenceman 2014 [43]

References

  1. ↑ "Philadelphia Flyers Draft Travis Sanheim with the 17th Pick in the 2014 NHL Draft".
  2. 1 2 3 "Hitman comes home". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. December 11, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ Hall, Jordan (May 1, 2020). "No hockey means more farming for Flyers' Travis Sanheim". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  4. ↑ Isaac, Dave (October 10, 2017). "Travis Sanheim's journey to stick with Flyers is a family affair". Courier-Post. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. ↑ Lawless, Gary (June 26, 2014). "Fast-rising Sanheim caps stellar season". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  6. ↑ Kennedy, Ryan (April 15, 2014). "NHL Prospect Hot List: Sanheim stands tall for Canada". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Flyers select (D) Travis Sanheim 17th overall". National Hockey League. June 28, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Flyers sign Travis Sanheim to entry-level contract". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. September 25, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  9. ↑ Carchidi, Sam (July 12, 2015). "Flyers D prospect Sanheim on the rise". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Bean-Sanheim pairing proves to be potent". Hitmen Hockey. Western Hockey League. January 16, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ Meltzer, Bill (August 4, 2020). "Spreading Their Wings". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  12. ↑ Heinen, Laurence (April 22, 2015). "Hitmen overtime play has been frequent and fantastic". Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  13. ↑ Heinen, Laurence (May 1, 2015). "Wheat Kings bounce Hitmen from WHL playoffs". Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  14. ↑ Johnson, George (September 24, 2015). "Johnson: Sanheim tasked with carrying a load, not a team". Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  15. ↑ Isaac, Dave (November 5, 2015). "Travis Sanheim, Radel Fazleev improving with Hitmen". Courier-Post. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Future Flyers Report: Travis Sanheim brilliant in return". NBC Sports Philadelphia. November 30, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  17. ↑ Heinen, Laurence (December 30, 2015). "Hitmen's Sanheim stepping into brother's role during World Juniors". Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  18. ↑ Fisher, Scott (March 6, 2016). "Rebels finish off key home-and-home sweep of Hitmen with 4–3 win". Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  19. ↑ Carchidi, Sam (April 6, 2016). "Two top Flyers prospects will debut for Phantoms". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  20. ↑ Trible, Mark (July 18, 2016). "Flyers prospect Sanheim continues climb". The Daily Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  21. ↑ Isaac, Dave (December 12, 2016). "Why start of Sanheim's pro career has Flyers excited". Courier-Post. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  22. ↑ Meltzer, Bill (March 20, 2017). "Phantoms Profile: Sanheim rounding out his game". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  23. ↑ Meltzer, Bill (November 25, 2017). "Meltzer: Flyers lineup features Phantoms Flavor". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "OTF: Flyers recall Travis Sanheim". NHL.com. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  25. ↑ Donnellon, Sam (December 14, 2017). "Flyers 2, Sabres 1: Five quick observations from Philly's fifth straight win". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  26. ↑ Isaac, Dave (March 12, 2018). "Travis Sanheim way more confident in return to NHL". courierpostonline.com. Courier-Post. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  27. ↑ Meltzer, Bill (April 16, 2018). "Meltzer: Kids Are Having Impact". NHL.com. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  28. ↑ Boruk, John (April 15, 2018). "Flyers come out swinging but knocked out by Penguins in Game 3". nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  29. ↑ "F Oskar Lindblom, D Travis Sanheim Returned to Lehigh Valley". phantomshockey.com. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Fletcher extends Sanheim as Flyers begin taking care of RFAs". NBC Sports Philadelphia. June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  31. ↑ Hall, Jordan (June 25, 2021). "Analyst discusses the struggles (and futures) of Sanheim and Myers". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  32. ↑ Barkowitz, Ed (March 1, 2021). "'It definitely takes a [mental] toll on you': A look back at the Flyers' COVID-19 shutdown". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  33. ↑ Carchidi, Sam (August 10, 2021). "The Flyers hope money spent translates into improved defense". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  34. ↑ O'Connor, Charlie (April 15, 2021). "Scale of 1 to 10: How concerned should the Flyers be with each of their struggling young players?". The Athletic. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Flyers sign Travis Sanheim". Philadelphia Flyers. August 21, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  36. ↑ Meltzer, Bill (August 24, 2021). "Sanheim: 'Now it's up to us.'". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Sanheim kicks off season with 8-year contract extension". NBC Sports Philadelphia. October 13, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  38. ↑ 2014 NHL Draft Profile #49: Travis Sanheim – Last Word On Sports
  39. ↑ NHL draft tracker: Travis Sanheim, Calgary Hitmen | Buzzing The Net – Yahoo Sports Canada
  40. ↑ Sanheim named FHM defenseman of the month – Future Considerations – Future Considerations
  41. ↑ Travis Sanheim – The Next Ones: 2014 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
  42. ↑ "Travis Sanheim prospect profile". Hockey'sFuture.com. November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Travis Sanheim competes at U18 Championships". HeavenlyHappy.com. May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
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