The Flyers’ defense picture is mostly set heading into training camp, but the bottom of the depth chart is where things get interesting.
When camp opens Thursday, Sept. 17, the biggest questions won’t be about the top of the blue line. Travis Sanheim, Cam York and Nick Seeler are generally viewed as the left-side locks, while Rasmus Ristolainen and Jamie Drysdale sit at the top on the right. The real competition starts after that, where the third pair and the extra spots are still very much up for grabs.
Philadelphia could carry seven or eight defensemen, depending on how camp and the short preseason unfold.
On the right side, the clearest battle centers on David Jiříček and Oliver Bonk. Jiříček, acquired from Minnesota for Bobby Brink last March, has the edge on paper.
He’s no longer waiver-exempt, which puts pressure on the Flyers to keep him rather than risk losing him for nothing. At 6-foot-4, he brings size, a right-handed shot and a heavy blast that has the coaching staff interested in using him on the power play.
For the former No. 6 overall pick, it feels like a major opportunity.
Bonk is the top challenger. The 2023 first-rounder has been one of the most talked-about breakout candidates and made a strong impression in the recent Rookie Series, where he picked up an assist.
He looked poised, showed some playmaking touch and already has a little NHL experience, including playoff action last spring. Because he remains waiver-exempt, the Flyers would rather see him playing meaningful minutes than sitting as a healthy scratch.
If he has a strong camp, he could help force the team toward eight defensemen or even push into a regular top-six role. Multiple reports have pointed to Bonk and Jiříček as one of the main storylines of camp.
There are other names in the mix as well. Ty Murchison has already earned positive early attention from the team’s brass after a solid rookie camp, with his size and skating giving him dark-horse appeal.
Hunter McDonald and Helge Grans are also part of the conversation, while Simon Benoit stands as another depth option. Benoit, who came over in the Joseph Woll trade, brings size and physicality, but his underlying numbers have not been strong, and he looks more vulnerable if the younger players keep pushing.
Seeler is still expected to keep a third-pair job thanks to his toughness and shot-blocking, though younger defensemen will be pressing him too. Ristolainen, in the final year of his deal and often mentioned in trade speculation, remains higher on the depth chart for now.
With the Flyers’ top four or five relatively settled, the camp battles are concentrated at the bottom of the roster and for third-pair ice time. And with only four preseason games to sort it out, players will need to make their mark quickly. Bonk, in particular, could end up being the swing factor in whether Philadelphia opens with seven or eight defensemen.
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