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Last season, the Philadelphia Flyers were able to complete an improbable run to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Much of that run was thanks to their young players’ contributions. Their youth movement helped bolster the team’s efforts in making their first postseason berth since the 2020 season.
The fact is that several of those players weren’t expected to have that kind of impact when the season began last September. Additionally, it justified their management’s faith that their prospect pipeline was on the right track in identifying NHL-ready talent.
However for the Flyers to continue their ascent, those players will be asked to be key components in making that happen. The fact that general manager Daniel Briere was willing to push all-in with an offer sheet attempt for Ducks’ center Leo Carlsson, that makes those expectations clear.
With that, we begin a new summer series reviewing some of the Flyers’ younger players’ 2025-26 season performance. And more importantly how they might take bigger roles in the team’s fortunes starting this fall. With that, we’ll begin with forwards Alex Bump and Denver Barkey.
Bump-ing Up Expectations
After a successful senior season at Westerna Michigan, Bump’s expectations were that he would make the opening night roster. The Flyers had depth on the right wing, but not on the left side. However, an underwhelming training camp and preseason tempered his chances. Eventually he was assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms on September 30.
His game was a work in progress for much of the early season. He scored 11 goals and 26 points in 36 games for the Phantoms However, he lost significant time due to upper-body injury that threatened to derail his rookie season.
As the season wore on, Bump began to display some of the talents that earned him Frozen Four MVP. He earned a recall to the Flyers on March 8 and scored in his NHL debut. He displayed a solid two way game down the stretch, scoring five goals and nine points in 17 games. In the offensive zone, he used his size (6 foot 2, 202lbs) to spin off the board and cut to the net for scoring chances. Bump added two goals in six playoff games.
By proving himself on the NHL stage, it’s more likely that Bump will stick on the Flyers roster. In many ways, going through an AHL campaign, however brief, proved to be beneficial. He had to earn his way back up and he did just that once he was healthy.
Because of his willingness to play on both sides of the puck, he could potentially play anywhere from the second to fourth lines. But his nose for getting into scoring areas makes him an excellent depth option for head coach Rick Tocchet.
Barkey Proves A Surprising Key Piece
Like Bump, Barkey entered last season coming off the success of a championship season. He was captain of the Memorial Cup champion London Knights. And like Bump, he proved to be a true closer as he scored two goals in the Knights clinching victory. However, unlike Bump, the five foot ten, 172lb forward did not come in with the same “make the roster” expectation.
Certainly, his smaller frame played a part in that perception, but as Flyers management watched him navigate his first AHL season with the Phantoms, he impressed. He finished with seven goals and 16 points in 26 games before the NHL club recalled him on December 19.
One night later, Barkey would notch two assists in his NHL debut against the New York Rangers. He would score his first NHL goal in the Flyers’ 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on January 3rd. His tenaciousness despite his lack of size grabbed the attention of Tocchet and his staff. He would stay with the Flyers for the rest of the season, finishing with five goals and 17 points in 43 games. He’d add a goal and assist in the playoffs.
Is Barkey Center or Wing? A Hybrid (ala Zegras)?
While Barkey was a center during junior hockey, he switched to left wing predominantly because of his lack of size. And he played that position for the majority of the season. However, Tocchet deployed him back at pivot late in the playoffs and showed some promise there. While it’s difficult to project at this point whether he can have an NHL future at the position, there is a potential career comparable.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ Logan Stankoven has a similar build to Barkey. He also struggled to establish himself as an NHL center with the Dallas Stars before his trade to Carolina. But as we all saw in the NHL playoffs, Stankoven was a driver in the Hurricanes’ championship.
In order for Barkey to follow that path, he’ll need to further strengthen his lower body strength. Regardless, Barkey projects to be a valuable piece for the Flyers wherever he lines up.
Off The Post Radio Lunch Edition With Jeff Marek
On a special 12pm edition of Off The Post Radio on Wednesday, Russ Cohen, Michael Augello, and I will be joined by the one and only Jeff Marek! The episode is powered by Team Toyota.
As you undoubtably know, Jeff anchors The Sheet from Monday to Friday on The Nation Network. He also hosts DFO Rundown, and Monumental Network’s Hockey Lifers. Truly one of the most insightful and fun guests, you never quite know where the show will take us.
So join us around lunchtime at the link!
Can Studnicka Aid the NHL team?
During free agency season in July, the Flyers signed 27-year-old forward Jack Studnicka to a two-year contract at a bargain-basement $875,00 cap hit. I’ll reiterate what I said on July 1. Studnicka is mostly an insurance policy. If all goes according to plan, the former Bruins second-round pick (2017) will play in the AHL for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
There’s little doubt that Studnicka can help John Snowden’s team in Allentown. The well-traveled forward (Bruins, Canucks, Sharks, Panthers) played well in the American League last year for the Charlotte Checkers. However, he was unable to stick in the NHL with Florida. It’s a familiar path for the player: solid middle-six mainstay in the AHL, NHL replacement player.
Don’t expect a radical change in Philly for Studnicka. However, in the event of injury in the NHL lineup, Studnicka can hold his own in a lower-lineup spot. He is an excellent skater, versatile enough to play center or wing, He’s also not devoid of skill.
Prediction: With the normal wear-and-tear on an NHL lineup, Studnicka could appear in about a dozen or so games for the Flyers in 2026-27. However, he’s currently behind Carl Grundstrom on the depth chart for the 13th forward role. Grundstrom played it very well last season.
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