Last season, Patrick Marleau broke a record that some expected to withstand the test of time when he broke the all-time games played mark. Today, another record that had stood for a long time was broken when Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle suited up in the starting lineup against the Islanders, his 965th straight game played, surpassing Doug Jarvis who had held the record since 1986.
Yandle is in his 16th NHL season and hasn’t missed a game since March 26, 2009, back in his first full season. But getting to this point hasn’t been without its challenges as he was very nearly made a healthy scratch in Florida at the start of last season but managed to play in every game, albeit in a more limited role than he was accustomed to.
After the Panthers bought the 35-year-old out last summer, he signed a one-year, $900K contract with Philadelphia (that holds full no-trade protection) with the hopes that he could add some firepower to their back end. That hasn’t happened, however, as he has just 13 assists in 42 games while his playing time has dipped to just over 15 minutes a night, nearly six minutes below his career average.
While Yandle has the record, there’s definitely a chance that his benchmark – which should continue to grow in the coming weeks – won’t be the top one for as long as Jarvis held his record. Coyotes winger Phil Kessel is suiting up in his 941st career game tonight and while he obviously won’t make up any ground as long as both are playing every game, the veteran winger is a year younger and is still fairly productive which could give him a chance to catch Yandle at some point.
But that chase is for a later date. At this moment, Yandle stands alone with the ironman record and if he continues to play in every game for the Flyers this season, he’ll crack the 1,000 consecutive games played mark in April.
The Flyers should have kept him out of the line up so he could of broken the streak at home.
Is this a serious comment?
Hahahahahaha, it was serious, great comment voodoo, your comprehension of this record is something we all should strive for
I would rather have your two sense of humors and/or sarcasm radars unless your both being sarcastic in which case I’m the ahole
Last sentence is incorrect, Yandle is playing in his 1,075 game played tonight.
Yandle streak started in 08-09 not during his rookie season in 06-07
It says 1000 consecutive games.
Good for Yandle, but the reason to keep him in the lineup is now gone. Phil likely breaks this record
… as long as Kessel stays out of injuries or protocol. But heck, this is a guy who only missed a few games with testicular cancer, for pity’s sake.
thank goodness something good has happened to this team this year.
Congrats to Iron Man! Now award him with Thanos’s glove so he can snap himself out of the franchise.
I remember watching Jarvis play and thought his record would last a long, long time. Well, I guess it’s been a minute lol. Now I feel old.
Congrats to Keith Yandle on the accomplishment. Truly impressive.
Impressive. Though, I’m a big believer in “mental health days” – Keith is well-past-due for a break! Congrats, sir.