For my 1,000th piece of written content material on The Hockey Writers‘ principal web site, I wished to reply your questions. On this Philadelphia Flyers mailbag, we’ll discover Alex Bump’s future, a couple of prospect storylines, and extra.
What Future Does Alex Bump Have within the Group/in Professional Hockey at Massive? – @blkstitchhockey
That is one I’ve considered for a couple of months. Bump, probably the most beneficial participant on Western Michigan College’s title-winning squad final season, is prepared for the following step. Placing up three targets in 9 American Hockey League (AHL) video games after that spectacular run, he’s undeniably pro-ready.
Truly, I’d go so far as to say that Bump is NHL-ready. The 21-year-old winger must earn his spot on the Flyers, however he ought to have an edge over a number of the different competitors.
Nevertheless, we’re discussing his long-term future right here. Finally, I believe he is usually a middle-sixer with top-six impacts throughout his prime, recording between 40 and 55 factors per season. Bump was productive in his faculty profession, sitting atop the pictures on purpose chart in his newest stint, nevertheless it wasn’t simply counting stats.
Dominant in transition, accountable in his personal zone, and a lover of firing pictures, Bump is an all-around participant. Main the NCAA in pictures on purpose by 57 could sound like a double-edged sword, however I see him as a accountable decision-maker. Within the NHL, count on the identical.
Exterior of Martone, Luchanko, and Zavragin, Which Present Prospect Do You See Making the Most Impression on the Staff When They’re Set to Contend? – @SaskieFlyBoy
My top-10 preseason prospect rankings, which I revealed right here, went as follows: Porter Martone, Egor Zavragin, Jett Luchanko, Jack Murtagh, and so forth. By that logic, Murtagh must be my alternative—the crew’s Fortieth-overall choose on the 2025 NHL Draft.
Associated: Flyers Finest-Case Growth Eventualities: Jack Murtagh
As a substitute, I’ll take the extra goal route. Coming in at fifth was Jack Nesbitt, which might be the “proper” reply. I appeared into his sport already, however the fast rundown is that he’s an enormous, high-IQ heart. If he is usually a extra dominant bodily power, he may very well be a high-end second-liner within the NHL.
The Flyers nonetheless lack a clear-cut top-line heart, however Nesbitt has the upside to be a significant piece. It’s arduous to seek out each outlier measurement and hockey sense in a participant. Whereas that is extra of a hopeful consequence, he was taken twelfth general for a purpose.
Who’s a Participant We May Not Have Anticipated to Compete for a Spot That Could Be on the Opening Night time Roster? – @CBMarshall901
In a current piece of mine, I highlighted Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, and Luchanko as potential rookie roster candidates for the 2025–26 season. However let’s go a little bit extra “on the market.”
Ethan Samson is a participant I’m keeping track of, even when I don’t count on him to make the crew. Given Rasmus Ristolainen’s up-in-the-air timeline, the 22-year-old right-shot defender may sneak his approach into the 23-man roster.
To me, Samson stood out with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms final season. At 6-foot-3 and 205 kilos, he has measurement to enrich his puck-moving skill and two-way upside. He was, in my eyes, the perfect defenseman on the crew. That skilled expertise units him other than somebody like Oliver Bonk.
If Zegras Finally ends up Being Higher on the Wing and Not Middle, and Truly Places up Factors on the Wing, Do You See the Flyers Protecting Him? – @CookedBy1K
That is an attention-grabbing one. In all probability, Trevor Zegras‘ major place can be at heart—that’s the place he’s performed his greatest hockey, and it makes probably the most sense stylistically. However what if he’s a winger, and a great one at that?
Nicely, the Flyers are already making an attempt to build up the perfect wing depth within the NHL. Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone may very well be the league’s greatest one-two punch, whereas Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, and a reasonably deep prospect pool can present extra scoring. Having Zegras within the combine can be par for the course, in a approach.
A restricted free agent within the offseason, nonetheless, it’s doable the Flyers would pursue a “hockey commerce” involving Zegras for a middle. Assume Philadelphia explores all its choices earlier than making a ultimate determination.
Projected PP Traces? – @mcardin15
The Flyers ought to have some optimism with their energy play—for actual this time. With Zegras and a brand-new teaching workers on board, the power-play basement can be unacceptable. If all goes properly, this may very well be a energy.
For the strains, the primary unit is listed first, and the second unit is second. Right here they’re:
The second unit is kind of a continuation of what the Flyers had final season, besides Cam York is on the level. The largest change comes with the PP1.
With Zegras and Michkov on the partitions, that’s a doubtlessly lethal duo of cross-ice passes and one-time pictures—an added X-factor. Konecny is a confirmed asset on the bumper spot, Sean Couturier is helpful within the net-front, and Jamie Drysdale was underrated from the purpose. Mixed with a route shift behind the bench, the person benefit ought to attain extra respectable ranges.
Thanks for the questions! Hockey is simply across the nook, so we should always have some extra definitive solutions quickly.
