The Flyers and Phantoms blogs on Hockey Hot Stove are brought to you by Phans of Philly, Lights On Electric, New Balance of Mount Laurel, and Summit Public Adjusters. Today’s Topic: Alex Bump.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are becoming a fun team to watch. They are 5-3-1 and winning games that they would have lost a season ago. Friday night’s game, for example, saw them trail 3-1 to the Hartford Wolf Pack but then Alex Bump woke up.
He found an open look and a goal to give the Phantoms life. They had all the momentum from that point on and not only tied the game but won it 4-3 in overtime. That overtime goal, it’s worth adding, was assisted by Bump. The winger had an inside track to the Philadelphia Flyers roster. Now, Bump is fighting for that spot, and performances like the one he had on Friday night are a reminder of how close he is to that next level.
Bump Stands Out as a Shooter
Without question, Bump’s best skill is his shot. When he has space to operate and pick his target, he can make defenses pay. Sure, his speed and overall skating ability are great attributes as well but when he has the puck and can pick his target, he takes over games.
His goal against the Wolf Pack was a showcase of that. The Phantoms applied pressure in the offensive zone, and Bump found the loose puck and moved to the open ice. He went to the far side and zipped the puck past the glove of the goaltender to fuel the comeback.
The shot stood out in college and at the end of last season. It allows Bump to have hot streaks where he can take over games, and it’s why he’s one of the top prospects in the Flyers system. Like Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, or Pavel Dorofeyev, his scoring can make up for other deficiencies in his game. Yet, Bump is starting to show he’s more than a scorer.
Bump’s Performance vs The Wolf Pack Shows He’s a Complete Player
Throughout the game, he was the top skater on the Phantoms. He led the rushes and moved up the ice to set up the offense. Bump became one of the playmakers the Phantoms needed in a game where they couldn’t generate much offense until late. In overtime, he was the one who found an open Lane Pederson on a breakaway to secure the victory.
What stands out is that Bump is great when he doesn’t have the puck. Throughout the season, he’s used his speed to backcheck and defend, something the coaching staff wants in their players. It’s something John Snowden noted when he was hired this summer, that the goal is to pressure teams and control the puck. With Bump, it’s about using his speed to defend, which has helped the Phantoms win a handful of low-scoring games as well this season.
Bump is Close to the NHL But Not There Yet
The highlight plays will make any Flyers or Phantoms fan jump out of their seat. If fans only followed social media or watched the highlights, they would assume Bump was the best player on the team. The truth is that hockey is a 60-minute (or 65-minute plus shootout) game, and it’s easy for him to disappear when he isn’t making plays offensively.
Bump disappears when the games get heavy. It’s why he struggled against the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup Playoffs (in the back-to-back, he assisted on one of the goals thanks to open ice on the power play). Conversely, players like Garrett Wilson and Zayde Wisdom have stepped up in the matchups against them. The Phantoms are searching for the power forwards to take their offense to the next level, something Snowden noted after the 4-1 loss to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins on Oct. 12.
“In order to score in any league, you have to get interior,” he noted after the loss.
Bump doesn’t get to the” home plate” area consistently yet. However he can score in bunches.
It comes with being a shooter that there are highs and then there are lows. The hot streaks are followed by cold ones. Bump had a goal and an assist on Oct. 17 against the Cleveland Monsters but then went five games without a goal and only one assist. If he wants to make the NHL roster and be a steady presence on the wing, he must remain consistent. It’s not easy but his skill can allow him to become that type of player, especially if he proves he’s more than just a scorer.
