Denver Barkey and Alex Bump, two of the Philadelphia Flyers' most promising prospects, are inching closer to breaking into the big leagues. While the likes of Porter Martone, Shane Vansaghi, Jack Nesbitt, and Yegor Zavragin continue to develop in the college, junior, or overseas ranks, Barkey and Bump have already made a name for themselves at the minor league level.
Barkey, a 20-year-old defenseman, has been turning heads with his impressive playmaking skills. He notched a goal in a weekend series against Cleveland, scoring on a smooth move to the backhand, and also contributed an assist on a slick between-the-legs pass across the crease. Barkey's performance was all the more notable given that he had struggled to stand out during preseason.
Bump, a 21-year-old winger, has been finding his footing with the Phantoms as well. He recorded two points in a weekend series against Cleveland, and also notched an assist on the opening goal of a 5-4 win over Hershey. Bump's improvement is no surprise, given that he was sent down from training camp after failing to make an impression.
Both players have been working to address specific areas of their game, with Barkey focusing on his physicality and strength, while Bump has been honing his puck-handling skills. If they can continue to build on this momentum, it's likely that we'll see them making the jump to the NHL sooner rather than later.
Other prospects, such as Karsen Dorwart and Devin Kaplan, are also starting to make a name for themselves with the Phantoms. Dorwart has been leading the team in scoring, notching three goals, while Kaplan has racked up two goals and two assists through his six games.
Meanwhile, Zayde Wisdom, a former 2020 fourth-round pick, is still on a long journey through the Flyers' development pipeline. After being lost for much of last season due to injury and illness, Wisdom finally got back on track this year, notching two goals against Hershey.
The Flyers' defense corps, however, is facing some uncertainty with Oliver Bonk's upper-body injury lingering. The 20-year-old defenseman was set to make his debut alongside Barkey but will now have to wait longer to join the lineup.
Other prospects, such as Helge Grans and Hunter McDonald, are starting to gain attention from coaches. Grans, a big right-handed defenseman, has been putting up solid numbers with two goals and two assists through three games, while McDonald is skating at plus-2 as a more physical defensive presence.
The Flyers' goaltending situation remains stable, with Carson Bjarnason and Aleksei Kolosov performing well in the minor leagues. The vision for this season seems to be on track, with both goalies getting minutes and developing down below while Dan Vladar and Sam Ersson handle things at the top.
As the Flyers continue to develop their prospects, it's clear that they have a bright future ahead of them. With players like Barkey, Bump, Dorwart, and Kaplan starting to make an impact, it won't be long before they join the likes of Rasmus Ristolainen and Ivan Provorov in the top four on the blue line.
Barkey, a 20-year-old defenseman, has been turning heads with his impressive playmaking skills. He notched a goal in a weekend series against Cleveland, scoring on a smooth move to the backhand, and also contributed an assist on a slick between-the-legs pass across the crease. Barkey's performance was all the more notable given that he had struggled to stand out during preseason.
Bump, a 21-year-old winger, has been finding his footing with the Phantoms as well. He recorded two points in a weekend series against Cleveland, and also notched an assist on the opening goal of a 5-4 win over Hershey. Bump's improvement is no surprise, given that he was sent down from training camp after failing to make an impression.
Both players have been working to address specific areas of their game, with Barkey focusing on his physicality and strength, while Bump has been honing his puck-handling skills. If they can continue to build on this momentum, it's likely that we'll see them making the jump to the NHL sooner rather than later.
Other prospects, such as Karsen Dorwart and Devin Kaplan, are also starting to make a name for themselves with the Phantoms. Dorwart has been leading the team in scoring, notching three goals, while Kaplan has racked up two goals and two assists through his six games.
Meanwhile, Zayde Wisdom, a former 2020 fourth-round pick, is still on a long journey through the Flyers' development pipeline. After being lost for much of last season due to injury and illness, Wisdom finally got back on track this year, notching two goals against Hershey.
The Flyers' defense corps, however, is facing some uncertainty with Oliver Bonk's upper-body injury lingering. The 20-year-old defenseman was set to make his debut alongside Barkey but will now have to wait longer to join the lineup.
Other prospects, such as Helge Grans and Hunter McDonald, are starting to gain attention from coaches. Grans, a big right-handed defenseman, has been putting up solid numbers with two goals and two assists through three games, while McDonald is skating at plus-2 as a more physical defensive presence.
The Flyers' goaltending situation remains stable, with Carson Bjarnason and Aleksei Kolosov performing well in the minor leagues. The vision for this season seems to be on track, with both goalies getting minutes and developing down below while Dan Vladar and Sam Ersson handle things at the top.
As the Flyers continue to develop their prospects, it's clear that they have a bright future ahead of them. With players like Barkey, Bump, Dorwart, and Kaplan starting to make an impact, it won't be long before they join the likes of Rasmus Ristolainen and Ivan Provorov in the top four on the blue line.