Flyers blog is powered by Phans of Philly, by Lights On Electric, by New Balance of Mount Laurel, by Cover All Exteriors, by Summit Public Adjusters and our newest sponsors, The Mens and Boys Store and Carl’s Cards and Collectibles.
The Philadelphia Flyers lost 6-2 to the New York Rangers on Monday in a game that embodies their disappointing second half of the season. Sure, they’ll likely miss the playoffs but the Rangers are a team they should beat, the worst team in the Eastern Conference, who they should handle if they want, at the very least, to remain competitive. They didn’t and were embarrassed instead on their home ice.
Related: Flyers Fall to Rangers: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The trade deadline and this team’s place in the standings are an indication that it’s time to turn the page. The Flyers need a youth movement and must lean into it correctly. For now, it centers around Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, and the recent call-up Alex Bump. Having those three skaters play well down the stretch will be a bright spot, and if the Flyers can find chemistry between at least two of them, it builds hope for the future.
Why Barkey & Bump Should Play on the Same Line
The Barkey and Bump duo formed great chemistry in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It speaks volumes when the AHL team was one of the best when they were together and is now fighting for a playoff spot. Barkey would win puck battles and create scoring chances while Bump would finish them, and their overlapping skill sets made them tough to stop.
It’s worth adding that Barkey’s motor works well with Bump and brings out the best in him. Bump, for all of his talent, won’t fight for the puck or look for goals in the dirty areas, unless he’s playing alongside someone who sets the tone. Barkey is that type of player.
The Flyers have them both skating on the left wing on separate lines, and it’s ideal to have them both playing their most effective sides. That said, Barkey showed he can play on the opposite wing and still play at a high level. The Flyers are mixing up the lines these days, and one combo they must test out is this one, especially considering the success it can have in the short term and the long haul.
The Argument Against The Flyers Pairing Them
It worked at the AHL level. That doesn’t mean it will in the NHL, where the game is faster, and spaces are tighter. It’s also important to consider Barkey’s role in the top six, playing the Noah Cates and Michkov line and working well with the two. Likewise, Bump as a shooter will get open looks with Christian Dvorak centering his line, which he’s done so far.
A Barkey and Bump line would also leave the Flyers with unbalanced lines. Specifically, the two would leave them with a line that would struggle to defend. All season, the Flyers have run with even lines and leaned on depth, for better or worse.
There’s a good chance that down the road, the Flyers will lean on a Barkey and Bump duo. However, it’s also likely that both will stay on the left wing while other prospects, notably Parter Martone, play on the opposite side. It’s why the best route is to give them the ice time and let them develop in their primary positions.
Flyers Youth Movement Starts With Them & Ends With Tocchet
If the Flyers lean into a youth movement, the question is how head coach Rick Tocchet goes about it. The critique of the coach throughout the season is how he deploys ice time, specifically, with Michkov and the other young skaters. Furthermore, he’s been quick to scratch younger players for mistakes or for not checking, which explains why Nikita Grebenhkin, another prospect in the system, has spent multiple games in the press box.
Some of the ice time issues are situational, like the penalty kill, leaving scorers like Michkov off the ice in favor of defensive forwards. Some of it is because the Flyers roll three lines and evenly distribute the playing time for them rather than leaning on one player or a specific trio. That said, the future of the Flyers is their prospects and young players, and Tocchet must realize it.
It’s why this final stretch is pivotal for the younger players. They must be given the opportunity to show they can be building blocks for the future. There’s a good chance Barkey and Bump are staples in the top six for years to come. Now is the time to find out.
