The Philadelphia Flyers called up Denver Barkey from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night. Barkey is one of the top rookies in the American Hockey League (AHL) this season and is a driver of the Phantoms’ offense, with seven goals and nine assists.
Related: Barkey: Pint-Sized Phantoms Wing Plays Big
The call-up is well deserved. Many Flyers fans will demand a call-up for Alex Bump or more playing time for Nikita Grebenkin before this move. Instead, Barley’s earned this nod, even if he doesn’t play much or at all. The only question is whether this move makes sense considering the state of the Flyers roster and Barkey’s presumptive role.
Barkey Earned This Call Up
What stands out on the typical shift is Barkey’s motor. He skates hard and wins puck battles while playing above his weight. It’s no secret that Barkey is a smaller skater, weighing only 155 pounds. However, his compete is what allowed him to stand out in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the AHL, and eventually get the nod to the NHL.
It’s also worth noting that while Barkey’s weight isn’t a fair measurement. His 155 pounds are built to withstand hits and outmuscle opponents (by contrast, the person writing this weighs more but has no chance to win a puck battle against him). Barkey is all muscle and can take the hits because he’s already taken them everywhere he’s gone.
Barkey’s been overlooked throughout his career. It’s why it took a few years with the London Knights to develop before he joined the Phantoms this season. At 20 years old, he’s starting to show why he’s ready for the NHL. He doesn’t have a shot that stands out and doesn’t stand out as a playmaker but does it all and makes his linemates better.
There’s a good chance that Barkey doesn’t see much time in the NHL. If he plays in a few games, his ice time will be at a minimum. However, his play with the Phantoms proved he belongs in the NHL and eventually will be a key part of the Flyers. For a rebuilding team, they are searching for future building blocks, and while Barkey might not be a star, he can be a steady contributor. That’s looking ahead, of course. The problem is the present, and for that, this move doesn’t make sense.
Why This Move Doesn’t Make Sense
The Flyers already have plenty of talent on their wings and don’t have a void in their top six. They also have the third-line skaters who are playing well in the role Barkey would presumably take. After waiving Egor Zamula, they called Barkey up but now must figure out how to optimize the prospect.
The question is where Barkey plays? Moreover, who does he replace in the forward unit? Rick Tocchett wants to keep three lines balanced and not overwork one or another but Barkey isn’t the type of player to throw into the fire. His ice time should be in the fourth-line range but he by no means is a fourth-liner.
At this point in the season, this wasn’t the move that the Flyers needed to make. It’s also better to have Barkey playing in the AHL right now than push him to the NHL. The Flyers are playing out the string before the holiday break while the Phantoms have a back-to-back this weekend and another back-to-back next weekend.
Like Bump and Grebenkin, Barkey needs the ice time and the game action he’s get in the AHL. Instead, he’s getting a cup of coffee with the Flyers but not much more. The Flyers front office has been patient with the rebuild and always cognizant of the long game. This move doesn’t reflect that.
What Barkey’s Call Up Means For Bump?
A surprise since training camp, is that Bump hasn’t gotten the Bump to the NHL while other players in the prospect pool have. Grebenkin won the job on the wing out of training camp. Carl Grundstrom also got the nod. Now, Barley was sent up to the Flyers before him.
It’s easy to look at this as a slight or an affront to the forward. The message this sends is that Bump must have the drive and motor to be on the NHL team. If Bump had Barkey’s effort, he’d be a great player making a significant impact with the Flyers. Instead, he’s letting players pass him by.
Now, Bump must make the most of the situation he’s put in. He’s leading the Phantoms top line and doing so without Barkey on his other wing. He must show he can produce even without him, that he can drive play regardless of his linemates. It’s moments like these where he can show the Flyers why he’s still a top prospect in their system.
Barkey looked good today. Unfortunately, the Flyers blew the game and only got 1 point vs the rags. Wasted a point.
Barkey looked good. The hope is he can stay in the NHL. Certainly, his compete is translating at the next level.