The Flyers and Phantoms content on HockeyHotstove is powered by Phans of Philly, by Lights On Electric, by New Balance of Mt. Laurel, by Cover All Exteriors, and by Summit Public Adjusters. Today: Denver Barkey.
The Philadelphia Flyers have a surplus of prospects that it’s easy to forget some of the key names to watch. Some are fighting for spots on the NHL roster, like Jett Luchanko or Nikita Grebenkin. Most are in the American Hockey League (AHL), looking to make that jump to the NHL by standing out with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Players like Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and Devin Kaplan are eager to show they belong in the NHL.
It wasn’t long ago that Barkey had the best case for the NHL team. He stood out in the Rookie Series with a goal and a great game against the New York Rangers rookies. His preseason and start to this season show that he’s still a step behind and looking to make that leap. Barkey is preparing and has been his whole career.
Barkey’s Background
“I grew up in a small town, Newmarket, Ontario,” Barkey mentioned in a conversation following Wednesday’s practice. It’s a small town with a population under 90,000 that’s 40 minutes north of Toronto. Barkey grew up in the same town that developed Quinton Byfield and the same area that gave birth to the NHL’s Sean Walker.
It’s a quintessential hockey town where kids grow up as Toronto Maple Leafs fans and have the cold weather to skate on outdoor rinks, as well as the opportunity to play for the team. Walker had to play above his weight and take on an underdog role to make it to the NHL, something Barkey, interestingly, has done to make it to the Phantoms.
Barkey also comes from a hockey family, one where his grandfather spent time as a journeyman player in multiple leagues. It’s only fitting that he grew up surrounded by the game since it was in his DNA. By the time he was a teenager, he was a top prospect at the junior level, and it’s why he ended up with the London Knights, a team that’s two and a half hours away from Newmarket. The distance was secondary since the Knights are one of the best teams in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and have a rich history of developing NHL stars.
His Play is a Testament to OHL Development
Barkey joined the Knights as a 16-year-old and a small forward who could only muster seven goals and eight assists in his first season. He left with 182 points in his final two seasons (116 games). To make a long story short, Barkey developed in the OHL, and the team turned him into a top prospect.
What stands out is how London developed him into a great player, notably with the coaching staff’s help. “It’s been good. I think London helps prepare you for pro. Dale (Hunter) and Connor really prepare you for pro. They helped prepare my game and lifestyle.” The lifestyle part is interesting since many players talk about their play on the ice but not off of it, per se. Barkey added that it’s the hockey life that Hunter taught him. “I think there’s a lot that goes into it. You’re making sure you’re ready for practice for the game but also watching what you eat.”
As a hockey observer, it’s always fascinating to note the differences between the prospects and whether they start their development. There’s the junior route, overseas, or college, with the college game becoming more intriguing in recent years and having a breakthrough. The money being poured into the game and the big names, including Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone, have changed the dynamics for where elite prospects go.
The junior game still has a strong case for young players. It’s hockey-focused and all about the game. It’s why some players don’t talk much or provide much insight often, because they lack the interest to do so. Barkey is the exception, and he was quick to praise the job the Knights did to get him one step below the NHL. “I think Dale does a good job preparing us for practices, styles of play, little habits; they all translate to pro, and I see why he was teaching that at a young age,” he added about the great coach in the OHL.
The Knights are a standard for the rest of the junior hockey teams. Sure, the league and many of the teams in it lack the money and resources of London or the college programs, but they still have great coaches. Hunter is one of the many in the league who can get the most out of his players, and these coaches will keep players from leaving for college.
The Flyers are debating sending Luchanko back to the OHL. He’s only played two games and hasn’t done much in them, albeit he’s had minimal ice time, that’s prevented him from making a mark. It won’t be the worst thing for his development, as Barkey has shown. Another season in the OHL will allow him to develop and become a great two-way forward.
How Barkey Impacts Flyers
Barkey is a skilled winger on a Phantom team that has plenty of them. He has a great shot but is known for his passing, with 169 assists in four OHL seasons. His three goals and five assists in five Memorial Cup games helped the Knights win the title. Along with the skill is the burst for the wing. “I think I have good edges and quick feet,” Barkey noted, which allows him to make quick plays or change direction easily.
This style explains why he grew up admiring Mitch Marner and Patrick Kane, since “their offensive side of the game is so creative off the charts,” as Barkey noted. The two wingers are playmakers first, who set up scoring chances for their linemates but their ability to handle the puck makes them great scorers when needed. Barkey stood out in the Rookie Series because of his shot, but his playmaking will be his best case to join the NHL roster someday.
The other key for Barkey is rounding out his game. During the Phantoms’ practice, he made some great plays defensively and won a few puck battles, even against bigger skaters than him. He has the motor or “I think it’s my compete” as Barkey put it to become a great and complete player. It’s why he’s focused on another star with hopes of becoming that for the Flyers.
Barkey Mirroring Point
The big thing for Barkey is to play the physical game. The Phantoms need it in their forward group, and the Flyers need it as well, which explains why they like Grebenkin and have pushed him in recent practices. Barkey must step up in the slot and find the back of the net, knowing he’ll take a hit or get pushed around in the process.
It’s something a lot of skaters do, but Brayden Point stands out as a finisher despite being only 5-foot-11 and weighing 177 pounds. Barkey at 5-9 and 155 pounds has to play that way as well. “I think over the years, I’ve tried to model my game after Brayden Point. His style, his tenacity, his fearlessness, he also shows up in the big moments, and he’s not the kind of guy who shies away from any kind of physicality,” Barkey noted. The Memorial Cup was a glimpse into what he can do in the big games, but it’s a small sample size compared to what the Tampa Bay Lightning star has done in his career.
Point is the finisher in the slot and the dirty areas. He plays on the same line as Nikita Kucherov, who makes everyone on the ice better but his ability to score stands out.
Point is the finisher in the slot and the dirty areas. He’s willing to take the hits but can still control the puck and score. It’s that skill that allows him to stand out. “I try to play as much like Brayden Point as I can,” Barkey continued, “But I also look to be versatile and do what is needed for the team.” The Phantoms need a finisher but they also need forwards who can defend. Barkey can do so, and it’s what will have the Flyers front office taking notice of him.
Where Barkey Must Improve To Help Flyers
As a smaller skater, it’s pivotal for Barkey to prove he can still win puck battles in the NHL. It’s why all the above-mentioned things are important. “Continuing to get stronger and focus on things like body position so I can hold the puck a second longer and make a play has been a big focus of mine,” he stated.
In two games, he has one assist, which isn’t much, but to be fair, it’s only two games. The season ahead is where Barkey can establish himself as a playmaking winger who can do it all and stand out on a Phantoms team that has Bump and Kaplan as wingers.
The good thing for Barkey is that the Phantoms have the coaches who can help him out. John Snowden was hired this summer and has already made a strong impression and the team and the young player. “I love the way he coaches; he’s very intense. He has a game plan and wants to execute it but he’s very good at describing it. It’s very similar to Dale,” Barkey mentioned.
It’s also very similar to Rick Tocchet, who is intense but also detailed in his approach. Both coaches explain the why and the process for how things are done, and it goes a long way, especially for a player like Barkey.
