Phantoms check-in: Are Denver Barkey, Alex Bump inching closer to the Flyers?

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.
 
They're making progress 🤞, but I'm still not convinced Barkey's got what it takes to keep up with the NHL pace ⚔️. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's got some sick skills 😎, but he needs to work on his consistency first. Bump's looking more solid though, maybe this is the year he breaks through 🎉! The defense corps is a mess atm tho 😩, gotta see how they shake it off with Bonk's injury and all 💔.
 
🤔 I think its gonna take a lil while for these young guns to break through tho lol like Barkey was on fire last weekend but can he keep it up? And what about Bump's consistency? 🤷‍♂️
 
man I think we gotta give some props to these minor league players, ya know? like Barkey's been through a lot since preseason but he just kept grindin' and now he's makin' moves, & Bump's got game, dude! 🤩 it's awesome to see these prospects killin' it in the Phantoms' lineup. Dorwart's doin' some solid work too, leadin' the team in scoring & all that 💪.
 
I think the NHL is gonna see some major changes with all these young bucks breaking into the league 🤯. People say that depth matters, but what if these younger guys bring more energy & creativity to the table? Those preseason games are just a small sample size, but I'm stoked to see Bump & Barkey getting playing time 🤔. Also, let's give some love to Dorwart, he's been putting up solid numbers. The only thing that worries me is defense, they're gonna need someone to pair with Ristolainen & Provorov ASAP or the team might get burned 🔥.
 
man this is wild barkey and bump are lighting it up out there 🤯 and i'm so hyped for dorwart he's a beast but you gotta wonder about wisdom hes been down since last season and now oliver bonk is out with an injury lol what if we see all these guys in the top 4 on d by end of year?
 
These kids are gonna change the game one way or another... their passion is palpable 🤔, the fire in their bellies will drive them to succeed no matter what. but we gotta wonder, at what cost? Barkey's been through that preseason struggle, and Bump had to fight for his spot again after being sent down... it's like they're running through a gauntlet 🔥.

Their focus on specific areas of improvement is admirable, but I wonder if they've truly reflected on their own motivations. What drives them to be better? Is it just about the game, or is there something deeper at play? 🤷‍♂️

And what about the other prospects? Are we just looking for a new crop of stars, or are we trying to build a team with character and depth? It's easy to get caught up in the hype, but we gotta keep our eyes on the prize – a sustainable, winning culture 🏆.
 
I'm so hyped about these young guns coming up through the Flyers' system 🤩! Denver Barkey and Alex Bump are already killing it at the minor league level, and if they can keep this momentum going, we might see them making a big impact in the NHL soon 💥. And let's not forget about Karsen Dorwart, he's on fire right now with those three goals under his belt 🔥. The defense corps is gonna be so solid with these prospects coming up, I'm loving it! 😎
 
omg i'm so hyped for barkey & bump!!! 😍🏒️ they're literally killing it at the minor league level & it's only a matter of time before they join the NHL squad 🚀💥 cant wait to see them crush it on the ice ❤️
 
I think its kinda deep how these young prospects are trying to find their footing in the minors... like, they're already being called up to show potential but still gotta work on specific areas of their game 🤔. Its like, the pressure's on them to prove themselves and make an impact, but also theres this weight of expectation from fans & coaches, you know?
 
omg i just got a new phone 📱 and i'm still trying to figure out how to use the camera 🤔 like is it snapchat or instagram 📸? anyway back to hockey i think these philly flyers guys are kinda interesting but what's up with all the names 🤷‍♂️ barkey, bump, dorwart... sounds like a video game 🎮
 
you gotta wonder whats goin down with oliver bonk's injury... maybe its not just an injury 🤔 his debut is gettin pushed back like, what's up? also, have you noticed how all these prospects are comin up at the same time? feels like theres a plan in place, but idk what it is 😏 carson bjarnason and aleksei kolosov r doin well down below tho, maybe they're preppin for somethin.
 
I'm so hyped for these young gun prospects! Barkey's playmaking skills are insane 🤯! And Bump is coming into his own, finally finding that rhythm with the Phantoms. It's awesome to see them working together and pushing each other to be better. The defense corps is looking a bit uncertain right now, but I'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough. The guys who are getting minutes in the minor leagues, like Bjarnason and Kolosov, are doing great things too! 🙌
 
Back
Top