‘He’s one of the top young guys in the game’

PHILADELPHIA — There’s a part of Travis Sanheim that wishes he would have been able to push fast forward.

That would have allowed the Philadelphia Flyers defenceman and Elkhorn product to speed up the development process, though he also recognizes some of those stumbles early in his career helped shape him into the bona fide No. 1 defenceman he is today.

“Just a lot of challenges along the way, a lot of learning curves. Things that I wish I could have told myself a lot sooner,” Sanheim said in a one-on-one interview before the Flyers hosted the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. “But you have to go through that as a young defenceman, with some of the mistakes and some of the tough nights that you go through. Just a lot of learning. A lot of work on my game, getting better each and every day. I’m really happy with where I’m at and where I think I can get to.”

Sanheim, who was chosen 17th overall by the Flyers in the 2014 NHL draft, is undeniably in a great place.

Now in his ninth NHL season, Sanheim anchors the Flyers top pairing and is used in all situations — averaging north of 27 minutes going into Thursday’s contest.

“It gets you right into it right away,” said Sanheim. “Playing almost 30 minutes one of the nights, you’re going almost every other shift for the entire night. We’ve obviously been hurting a bit on the back end, so I’ve been relied upon maybe a little bit more than they’d maybe want to. But I’m happy to do so when needed and I’m up for the challenge.”

Sanheim’s elite skating ability allows him to jump in the rush frequently, while not raising his risk profile or sacrificing anything in the defensive zone.

That balance is difficult to find for many blue-liners, but Sanheim has found the sweet spot.

“It’s just a big part of my game. My skating is a big factor that allows me to do that because I can get up and get back,” said Sanheim. “You learn a lot over the years and I feel comfortable with where my game is at and being able to jump up as much as I can, yet understand situational play and to be able to play against the other team’s top line and shut them down in doing so. I like playing big minutes and being in those pressure situations.”

Sanheim found himself in a high-pressure situation last February while suiting up for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, helping Canada win a gold medal in the first best-on-best tournament since 2016.

The mobile blue-liner had represented his country at the U18 championship and the men’s world championship, but this time the stakes were higher and so was the level of competition.

“That’s a different stage,” said Sanheim. “To be with the best players in the world at that level and to be at that tournament, with the success that not only (4 Nations) had but our team had, it meant a lot to me.

“My confidence and what it did for me, understanding that I can play with those guys and play at that level and do well. It was just a lot of fun. To be able to learn and be around those types of players — and to be able to win as well, it meant a lot to be part of that.”

And while his focus is on helping the Flyers take the next step this season under the tutelage of new head coach Rick Tocchet, Sanheim has his eyes on nailing down a roster spot on the Olympic team in Italy.

“Obviously, first and foremost, I’m just worrying about my game,” said Sanheim. “I just always think that if I get my game in the best situation possible and you’re playing well, the rest will take care of itself. So it’s something that is on my mind and I want to be a part of it. It would mean a lot to me, but I’ll just focus on my game and the rest will take care of itself.”

Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey was roommates with Sanheim on the equivalent of a Western Hockey League all-star team for a Canada-Russia Challenge event when they were both playing junior hockey, so he’s not surprised to see the growth in his game.

“He’s always been a great player. A big guy that skates really well, he’s fluid and he can play a lot of minutes,” said Morrissey. “Last year really kind of was a bit of his coming-out party around the league. He’s a big guy that can eat up those minutes, play tough minutes in a shutdown role and also provide that offensive spark as well.

“At the tournament, I wouldn’t say that I learned anything I didn’t know I guess. Because I do watch a lot of hockey. He’s really calm under pressure, for sure.”

Sanheim also has an appreciation for where Morrissey has taken his game.

“He’s obviously got a great hockey mind. I remember hanging out and some of the stuff we would go back and forth talking about,” said Sanheim. “I can still remember being up later than we should have been talking about hockey and different situations and just how smart he was in the way that he saw (the game).

“He’s an exceptional player. It took him a little bit (of time) to get to that level. To see where he’s at now, he’s one of the top defencemen in the league.”

Jets head coach Scott Arniel spent a lot of time in the Eastern Conference during his tenure with the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals and Sanheim’s game always caught his attention.

That hasn’t changed since Arniel spent the past four seasons in the Western Conference with the Jets.

“There’s a kid that went through some tough years here, with lots of losing, but he’s a guy that’s always stood out,” said Arniel. “A tremendous skater, a big body. He plays in every situation and you’ve seen his growth over the years, whether that’s as a power-play quarterback or killing penalties. A big thing about him is joining the rush. He can skate.

“He’s one of the top young guys in the game.”

At the age of 29, Sanheim is still coming to grips that he’s shifted into the veteran category, but those experiences are serving him well as he pushes his game forward.

“It still feels like I’m a young guy in this league,” said Sanheim. “Obviously, I’m an older guy on the back end, a veteran guy now. It’s crazy how fast it’s gone. I’m looking forward to a big year.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld