Flyers training camp opened today in Voorhees, and the biggest question is not at the top of the lineup. It’s down in the weeds, where a handful of players are fighting for a very small number of openings.
The Flyers enter camp with a relatively settled core after making the playoffs last season, which leaves only a couple of roster spots up for grabs depending on whether they carry 13 or 14 forwards, or 7 or 8 defensemen. That means the early days at the Flyers Training Center are going to be about competition, not comfort.
On defense, Oliver Bonk stands out as the most intriguing name in the mix. The 2023 first-round pick is viewed as the best chance to push his way onto the roster with a strong camp. The Flyers do not want him parked as a healthy scratch for an extended stretch, so if he makes a real impression, the team could lean toward keeping eight defensemen.
He is not the only one in the fight. Simon Benoit, acquired via trade, brings a physical edge.
Ty Murchison turned heads in rookie camp. Hunter McDonald and Helge Grans are also in the picture.
David Jiříček looks more secure, especially now that he is no longer waivers exempt.
Up front, the final spots are just as crowded. Nikita Grebenkin, Carl Grundström, Noel Acciari and Zach Aston-Reese are among the players battling for position. Grebenkin is hurt and will miss the start of camp, which leaves him playing catch-up right away.
There are also younger players trying to force their way into the conversation. Alex Bump had a strong showing in the recent rookie series against Rangers prospects, while Denver Barkey and Porter Martone are pushing for roles and ice time as well.
Barkey could also get time at center during camp or in preseason games, and the Flyers like his versatility. He is also expected to see time on the penalty kill.
General Manager Danny Brière has made the competition angle clear. The fight is not only for roster spots, but for special-teams roles and responsibilities too. His message has been that no one should feel safe because of what happened before.
That urgency fits the schedule. Camp is short, and the preseason opener comes Monday, Sept. 21, against Washington in Hershey, so the Flyers will not have much time to sort through these battles.
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The wrinkle is that the bathhouse situation may not be quite what Michkov thinks it is. There are Russian bathhouses in the Greater Northeast and Lower Bucks area, including Southampton Spa, which makes this sound less like a real civic drawback and more like a simple gap in knowledge, or maybe just a player still learning the geography of his new surroundings. For the Flyers, it is a small but amusing reminder that sometimes acclimating to Philadelphia means discovering what is already tucked away just beyond the neighborhood lines. [Read more 🡒]
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Flyers Rookie Camp Is Already Creating A Tough Prospect Debate
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Devin Kaplan, meanwhile, has been quieter as he works his way back into the mix after injury, which only sharpens the debate over who is ready to push for a bigger look next. For a Flyers group that wants to see development turn into decisions, rookie camp has already become less about participation and more about comparison, with one prospect building momentum and another still trying to close the gap. [Read more 🡒]