Yandle's Ironman Streak to End at 989 Games

The NHL is about to get a new Ironman. 

As first reported by NHL Network's Kevin Weekes, the Philadelphia Flyers are set to make defenseman Keith Yandle a healthy scratch for the team's game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, ending the veteran's streak of consecutive games at 989, which stood as the active record and falls just 11 games shy of 1,000. 

Flyers head coach Mike Yeo later confirmed the report following the team's morning skate, explaining that the team is at a point where they must look to the future. 

Regardless, it's a curious decision to choose this moment as the one to end Yandle's Ironman streak. 

While the 35-year-old has struggled mightily this season, and likely hasn't performed to the level of an NHL-caliber player in roughly two years, Yandle is still one of the more widely respected veterans in the league, and his consecutive games streak is one of great pride for him and his fellow teammates. 

The Flyers, not to mention, sit about as far outside the playoff picture as one team can at this point in the year, with little left to play for this season other than pride. To rob Yandle of his shot at 1,000 consecutive games, and therefore snuff out one of the rare heartwarming stories to come from the moribund 2021-22 Flyers, especially with the season practically over is puzzling, to say the least. 

With Yandle's streak now finished, Arizona's Phil Kessel now sits just 22 games away from establishing himself as the NHL's active Ironman. 

Hopefully, his coach will allow him to do it.