The 34-year-old defenseman had the final two seasons of his seven-year contract bought out by the Florida Panthers on July 15.
Yandle played for Flyers coach Alain Vigneault during his two seasons with the New York Rangers (2014-16), and said that experience led him to choosing to sign with Philadelphia. Flyers center Kevin Hayes also was a teammate with the Rangers.
"Having played for 'AV' and knowing what he can bring to a team, I think that was a big part," Yandle said. "Kevin obviously being one of my best friends and a guy that I train with every day in the summers and I see him around every day, so it's definitely one of those things when you have a friend on another team and feel confident, it definitely made it a little bit easier."
Yandle has played 922 consecutive regular-season games, the second-longest streak in NHL history behind Doug Jarvis (964). He scored 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) in 56 games last season and had two assists in three Stanley Cup Playoff games. Yandle played his 1,000th NHL game March 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
He said prolonging his streak and breaking Jarvis' record was not discussed with general manager Chuck Fletcher.
"It's one of those things where I'm a team player," Yandle said. "It's all about the team. I don't really think too far ahead, so I think for me it was just getting into the best fit for me and a chance to win and ultimately that's why I went with the Flyers."
He missed his first game since March 22, 2009, with the Arizona Coyotes, when Florida made him a healthy scratch for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup First Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, ending his streak of 979 regular-season and playoff games, two behind Coyotes forward Phil Kessel for the longest in NHL history.
Yandle has scored 600 points (102 goals, 498 assists) in 1,032 regular-season games for the Coyotes, Rangers and Panthers since entering the NHL in 2006-07, and 36 points (six goals, 30 assists) in 58 playoff games.
"We are excited to add Keith to our team," Fletcher said. "He is an established veteran defenseman who excels moving the puck and playing on the power play. He is a true professional who comes ready to play every night."
Philadelphia also signed goalie Martin Jones to a one-year, $2 million contract, and forward Nate Thompson to a one-year, $800,000 contract.
Jones was 15-13-4 with a 3.28 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 34 games last season, and had the final three seasons of his six-year contract bought out by the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
Thompson scored five points (two goals, three assists) in 44 regular-season games and had two assists in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Winnipeg Jets last season. He had one assist in seven games with the Flyers in 2019-20 after being acquired in a trade with Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 24, 2020.
The Flyers acquired defenseman Ryan Ellis
in a trade with the Nashville Predators on July 16
, and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen
from the Buffalo Sabres on July 23
.
NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti contributed to this report
