Considered a top prospect, Drysdale was selected sixth overall by the Ducks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. After recording 32 points in 81 games during the 2021–22 season, he missed significant time to injury the next two seasons, including a torn glenoid labrum that caused Drysdale to miss nearly the entire 2022–23 season. In 2024, he was traded to the Flyers in exchange for Cutter Gauthier.
The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) drafted Drysdale fourth overall in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection,[11] and he signed with the team that May.[10] Drysdale joined the Otters for the 2018–19 OHL season, making his junior ice hockey debut with two assists in Erie's season-opening 12–1 win over the Flint Firebirds.[12] His first OHL goal followed on October 17, in the Otters' 4–3 victory over the Niagara IceDogs.[13] Drysdale's overtime goal against the London Knights on February 15, 2019, was his 29th point of the season, breaking Travis Dermott's franchise record for a rookie defenceman.[14] He finished his rookie season with 40 points in 63 games,[15] earning a place on the 2018–19 OHL First All-Rookie Team.[16]
Drysdale entered the 2019–20 OHL season as one of four rotating alternate captains behind Jack Duff.[17] The youngest defenceman on the Otters that season, Drysdale told reporters that "the whole atmosphere and expectations [were] a lot higher" in his second year.[18] On September 22, Drysdale recorded one goal and four assists in Erie's 8–5 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs, tying a franchise record for most points by a defenceman in a single game.[19] During the season, Drysdale made appearances at two prospect competitions: the CHL Canada/Russia Series and the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[20][21] By the time that the 2019–20 OHL season was cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,[22] Drysdale totalled nine goals and 47 points over 49 games, and he was named to the OHL First All-Star Team at defence.[23] Drysdale was considered a top National Hockey League (NHL) prospect, with the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranking him third among all North American skaters during the 2019–20 season.[24]
Professional
Anaheim Ducks (2021–2024)
With his access to ice skating limited by the pandemic, Drysdale spent the 2020 offseason exercising and practicing inline skating.[25] The Anaheim Ducks selected Drysdale sixth overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft,[26] and he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team on November 7.[27] When the 2020–21 NHL season began in January, the Ducks assigned Drysdale to the San Diego Gulls, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[28] After recording ten points in his first 14 AHL games and being named the league's Rookie of the Month for February, Drysdale was promoted to Anaheim's taxi squad in March.[29][30] Drysdale made his NHL debut on March 18, 2021, scoring a goal and registering an assist in Anaheim's 3–2 overtime win against the Arizona Coyotes. Drysdale and Trevor Zegras's goals came only 2 minutes and 29 seconds apart in the second period, making them the youngest set of NHL teammates to record their first goals within 2:30 of one another.[31] Appearing in 24 games that season, Drysdale finished with three goals and eight points.[32] When the Ducks' season ended, Drysdale returned to the Gulls for a truncated AHL playoff series in which he put up two assists in three games.[33][34]
Drysdale was named to the Ducks' 2021–22 opening-night roster, playing on Anaheim's top defensive pairing with Hampus Lindholm.[35] As the season progressed, Drysdale struggled to balance his offensive output with maintaining his defence, telling reporters that it was "just a matter of noticing when and where you are in the game and making the smart play".[36] After a difficult defensive stretch in which he was on the ice for seven even strength goals against Anaheim in two games, Drysdale was a healthy scratch for the team's March 12 game against the New Jersey Devils. Coach Dallas Eakins observed that after the scratch, Drysdale appeared "less busy", which helped his defence.[37] He finished his first full NHL season with four goals and 32 points in 81 games, second only to Moritz Seider in scoring by a rookie defenceman.[38]
The Ducks underwent major line-up changes prior to the 2022–23 season, and Drysdale opened the year on the second defensive pair alongside Dmitry Kulikov.[39] On October 22, in the second period of a 4–0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, Drysdale took a hit from William Carrier behind Anaheim's net and left the game.[40] He was ultimately revealed to have suffered a torn glenoid labrum on the play and underwent surgery, which sidelined Drysdale for the remainder of the season. He was pointless in the eight games he played before the injury.[41][42]
A restricted free agent prior to the 2023–24 season, Drysdale's contract negotiations extended throughout the offseason, forcing him to miss part of training camp.[43] On October 5, 2023, the two sides agreed to a three-year, $6.9 million extension.[44] Two games into the season, Drysdale suffered a lower-body injury against the Carolina Hurricanes. He did not return until December 21, when the Ducks faced the Calgary Flames.[45] On December 27, Drysdale scored a goal in Anaheim's 5–2 win over the Golden Knights, his first since March 21, 2022.[46] In 10 games with the Ducks during the 2023–24 season, Drysdale recorded one goal and five points.[47]
Philadelphia Flyers (2024–present)
On January 8, 2024, the Ducks traded Drysdale, as well as a second-round selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, to the Philadelphia Flyers. In exchange, Anaheim received the signing rights to prospect Cutter Gauthier.[47] Flyers coach John Tortorella praised Drysdale's skating ability and told reporters that he hoped for more offensive production from the defenceman, who joined Philadelphia's league-worst power play unit.[48] During the Flyers' February 25 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Drysdale injured his left shoulder on a hit from Jansen Harkins.[49] Although the injury was less severe than initially feared, Drysdale missed the next month of play, returning on April 1 for Philadelphia's game against the New York Islanders.[50] Following the trade, Drysdale recorded two goals and five points in 24 games for the Flyers.[34]
Drysdale has referred to himself as "a puck-moving [defenceman] who can move really well up the ice",[61] and has modelled his game after Morgan Rielly and Cale Makar.[62] Drysdale's skating ability has earned praise from teammates and coaches, and he has taken lessons from Dawn Braid to maintain this ability.[63][64] While sportswriters have noted Drysdale's offensive ability, he has shown inconsistent defence and is physically undersized for his position at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and 190 lb (86 kg).[65][66]
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