Flyers’ Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk Make Stanley Cup Playoffs Debut
The Philadelphia Flyers have made a surprising move in an attempt to avoid a second round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. Rookies Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk made their Stanley Cup Playoff debut when the Flyers took the ice, playing over healthy scratches Matvei Michkov and Emil Andrae. Luchanko and Bonk now make 13 Flyers to play the first Stanley Cup Playoff game of their career in this postseason per NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman.
Philadelphia scratched Michkov in Game 5 of their first round win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has continued to underwhelm in four games back in the lineup since, still sat at just one point in the first eight playoff games of his NHL career. Luchanko will try to be the difference-maker in just his ninth NHL game. He began the season captaining the OHL’s Guelph Storm, then served as the two-way backbone to the all-out-offense of the Brantford Bulldogs after a mid-season trade. Luchanko ended the year with a combined 43 points in 38 games, a slight step down from the points-per-game pace he managed last year (56 points in 46 games) but still more than his 2023-24 season (74 points in 68 games). He has proved to be a tireless worker who can make a difference in the dirty areas of the ice – a knack that could make him a jammer in the Hurricanes’ breakouts.
Bonk played through his first season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this year. He had quiet results on both sides of the puck, finishing the year with 19 points and a minus-14 in 46 AHL games. It was an underwhelming introduction after a productive, two-way showing in three OHL seasons. Bonk curbed expectations when he scored one goal and one assist in the Flyers’ season finale and his NHL debut. He seemed to move with a bit more confidence on NHL ice and could stand as an X-factor puck-mover if he finds the same spark on playoff ice.
Whether they win or lose, the Flyers will face tough questions on the other side of the postseason. Michkov, the 2023 seventh-overall pick, has been benched twice in his first playoff run despite reaching 20 goals and 51 points in 81 games during the regular season. His 114 points in 161 games is the highest points-per-game from a U22 Flyers skater in the last 10 years. He has clear upside, though Philadelphia will have to find a way to bring it out – a task that could become even tougher if Luchanko can flex his might in the postseason.
Defense Notes: Nikishin, D’Astous, Bonk
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin skated in a non-contact jersey this morning, his first time hitting the ice since he suffered a concussion against the Ottawa Senators. The move indicates that Nikishin is progressing closer to a return to the ice in time for the start of the team’s second-round series, which will either be against the Pittsburgh Penguins or Philadelphia Flyers. Nikishin played on the left side of Carolina’s third pairing for the team’s first-round sweep of the Senators, also handling some power play duties.
Long seen as one of Carolina’s top prospects, Nikishin had a successful rookie campaign and his return bolsters a Hurricanes team that is one of the league’s finest. He averaged 18:11 time on ice per game this season, chipping in on both sides of special teams. He scored 33 points across 81 games, ranking second in scoring among rookie blueliners across the league. The former captain of the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg was a star defenseman back in Russia and if he can end up returning before the start of the second round, he would only further underscore Carolina’s position in the upcoming series as heavy favorites.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told the media that defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous is a game-time decision tonight, meaning he could potentially return for a high-stakes game five against the Montreal Canadiens. D’Astous suffered an undisclosed injury in game one and has missed three consecutive contests. D’Astous has been a significant win for Tampa Bay’s scouting staff and wider hockey operations department this season, as the former SHL, Liiga, ECHL, and QMJHL defenseman of the year stepped right into the NHL and had a strong rookie campaign at the age of 28. The undrafted blueliner, signed through next season at an $875K cap hit, scored 29 points in 70 games while averaging 18:45 time on ice per game.
- The Flyers have considered inserting rookie defenseman Oliver Bonk into their lineup for game six against the Penguins, head coach Rick Tocchet told the media yesterday. (Per Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.) Although Bonk skated with the expected scratches at today’s morning skate, Tocchet said yesterday that “it is in the discussion to maybe put him in.” The 21-year-old has just one NHL game on his résumé, though he does have extensive playoff experience from his days in junior hockey with the London Knights. If they elect to dress Bonk, the Flyers could be looking for one of their top defensive prospects to provide them with a spark, a spark similar to the ones provided by rookies Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, and most recently Alex Bump.
Flyers Recall Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek
The Flyers have recalled defense prospects Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek from AHL Lehigh Valley, the team announced Monday. They will be on hand for the remainder of the postseason if needed after Lehigh Valley saw its season come to an end in its regular-season finale against Charlotte on Sunday, failing to qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Both are coming off recent stints on the NHL roster. The Flyers gave Bonk, their 22nd overall selection in the 2023 draft, his NHL debut in their final regular-season game against the Canadiens last week. Jiricek, while he’s gotten playing time in previous stints with the Blue Jackets and Wild, got the chance to make his Flyers debut the same night after being acquired from Minnesota for winger Bobby Brink at the trade deadline.
Bonk was particularly impressive in his first-ever showing. The 6’2″ righty shrugged off the growing pains of his first professional season in Lehigh Valley to rattle off a goal and an assist in the first period of the eventual 4-2 win, both at even strength. He logged 16:28 of ice time with two hits, although his possession impacts weren’t great. Philly lost the shot attempt battle 13-10 with Bonk on the ice at 5-on-5 despite him starting 80% of his shifts in the offensive end.
As mentioned, his run in Lehigh Valley this year was a mixed bag. After he was arguably the best shutdown defender in junior hockey last year en route to a Memorial Cup championship with the OHL’s London Knights, Bonk only managed 19 points and a -14 rating in 46 AHL games following a weeks-long stint on injured reserve to open the season. As Scott Wheeler of The Athletic opines, he’s still the Flyers’ #3 prospect and was relied upon heavily this season despite the lack of production and dominant results, so perhaps a more competitive AHL environment next season could facilitate a statistical breakout.
In all likelihood, though, Jiricek would find his way into the playoff lineup sooner if Philly needed someone to step in. Now 22, the 2022 sixth-overall pick still hasn’t locked down a full-time NHL job but does have 85 games of experience over the last four years compared to Bonk’s lone showing. His numbers aren’t great, limited to a 2-11–13 scoring line and a -8 rating while averaging a conservative 13:37 per night.
However, Jiricek has looked far more like the future top-pair challenger he was expected to be in Lehigh Valley over the last month. He had struggled to make an offensive impact in the minors in Minnesota’s system but rattled off a 2-11–13 scoring line in 15 games upon his arrival with the Phantoms, albeit with a -7 rating.
Jiricek will presumably be on the Flyers’ opening night roster in the fall. They signed him to a two-year, $3MM extension at the beginning of the month, and he loses his waiver-exempt status on July 1. They have a more experienced right-shot option in the press box in Noah Juulsen if need be, but if a top puck-mover ends up sustaining an injury, it stands to reason Jiricek could get the call as a better stylistic match.
Flyers Return Six Players To AHL
Wednesday: All five players recalled yesterday – Bonk (who had two points in his NHL debut), Gaucher, Richard, McDonald, and Kolosov – were returned to Lehigh Valley, per a team announcement. Also sent down was defenseman David Jiricek, who had been brought up on Sunday.
Tuesday: The Flyers will be resting some talent for tonight’s season finale against the Canadiens after locking up a playoff berth with last night’s win. As such, they announced they’ve called up several reinforcements from AHL Lehigh Valley – including 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk, who will be making his NHL debut tonight. Joining the hard-nosed defender are forwards Jacob Gaucher and Anthony Richard, defenseman Hunter McDonald and goaltender Aleksei Kolosov.
Philly likely hoped to get Bonk a look earlier in the season. The 22nd overall pick saw some notable offensive regression in his final season of junior hockey last year but otherwise capped up a successful pre-pro career with a second straight showing for Canada at the World Juniors and a Memorial Cup win with the London Knights. However, he sustained an upper-body injury shortly before training camp that ended up keeping him sidelined until Christmas.
He’s spent the months since getting used to the pro speed in the AHL. Early returns suggest Bonk may end up topping out as a higher-end second or third-pairing shutdown threat, not the top-pair complement they hoped he’d be. The 21-year-old righty has managed a 6-13–19 scoring line with a -10 rating through 44 games with Lehigh Valley, which currently sits two points out of the Calder Cup Playoff picture with three games remaining.
Still, he sits as the Flyers’ #3-ranked prospect and the second-highest name that’s currently playing in North America behind only budding star Porter Martone, who has eight points through his first eight games since turning pro out of Michigan State at the end of last month, per Scott Wheeler of Athletic. Still, his assessment is that of a #4-5 man on Philly’s depth chart long-term.
Everyone else joining the team today does so with NHL experience, save for McDonald. Gaucher, an undrafted free agent who’s worked his way up from being an ECHL mainstay just two years ago, is a pending restricted free agent, so tonight’s game could double as a sort of audition for a qualifying offer in June. The 6’3″, 185-lb center has been a 20-goal man in the AHL in back-to-back years now, but doesn’t have a ton of growth left in his game at age 25. Through seven career NHL outings over the last two seasons, he’s gone pointless with a -1 rating while averaging 7:57 of ice time per game.
Richard is also a pending free agent of the unrestricted variety, but it wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest to see the Flyers extend or retain him. The 29-year-old was an efficient call-up option last year, although he’s yet to see NHL time this season. The former Predators fourth-rounder is now with his fourth NHL organization after making one-year stops with the Canadiens and Bruins in 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. He’s been good for six goals and 14 points in 39 career NHL games in parts of five seasons. This year, he’s Lehigh Valley’s second-leading scorer with 18 goals and 44 points in 63 games.
McDonald, 23, was rostered for a few games back in January while Rasmus Ristolainen was sidelined but didn’t end up seeing any action. That should change tonight. The 6’4″, 238-lb lefty was a sixth-round pick in 2022 out of the USHL’s Chicago Steel. He proceeded to have a standout freshman season at Northeastern the following year that got him named to Hockey East’s All-Rookie Team while taking home Best Defensive Defenseman honors.
The New York native signed his entry-level contract, which expires this summer, back in 2024. Over parts of three seasons now in Lehigh Valley, he’s been a pure shutdown threat but a strong one. In 144 career outings, he’s amassed four goals and 27 points with 199 penalty minutes and a +22 rating. He’s much closer to being NHL-ready than his point production indicates and could very easily work his way into the conversation for a roster spot next fall.
Kolosov, after years of drama regarding whether he’d accept a consistent AHL assignment, has now firmly entrenched himself as the Flyers’ #3 netminder. Whether the Flyers will tender him a qualifying offer – or whether Kolosov will sign it – this summer is a different story. His numbers aren’t good. He hasn’t posted a save percentage above .900 at any level since arriving in North America in 2024, with a career .863 mark and a 3.64 GAA in 21 career NHL outings with a 5-11-1 record. As Lehigh Valley’s starter this season, he’s amassed a .898 SV%, 2.88 GAA, two shutouts, and a 15-20-2 record in 37 games.
Flyers Reassign Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, Carson Bjarnason
Feb. 19: The Flyers announced they’ve returned Bonk, McDonald, and goaltender Carson Bjarnason to Lehigh Valley today. They’ll get into AHL game action over the weekend after getting a day’s worth of NHL practice time.
Feb. 18: The Flyers have recalled defensemen Oliver Bonk and Hunter McDonald from AHL Lehigh Valley as expected, per a team announcement. They’ll get some practice reps in while Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen are still representing their countries at the Olympics.
While Bonk likely won’t be sticking around past the next week, it’s still a nice reward for Philly’s top-ranked defense prospect. Viewed as the only future top-four piece in their pipeline, the 21-year-old has had a trying first professional season. An upper-body injury sustained during rookie camp kept him out of the lineup until December. Since returning, he’s had two goals and six points with a -5 rating in 22 games for Lehigh Valley.
Bonk was the 22nd overall selection in 2023. He’s a two-time OHL champion with the London Knights and recorded 150 points in 189 career junior games with a +88 rating across four seasons. The early lack of offensive production in the AHL likely isn’t too concerning for the Flyers, who drafted the right-shot Bonk as more of a defensive-oriented two-way piece, but they’ll look to continue to grow his defensive game in the minors until likely giving him a more extended look on the roster in either 2026-27 or 2027-28.
McDonald, also a shutdown-type piece, got a brief recall in January while Rasmus Ristolainen was sidelined, but was scratched in three games before being returned to Lehigh Valley. The 23-year-old 6’4″ lefty has five assists and a +9 rating in 40 games for the Phantoms this year.
East Notes: Penguins, Laine, Flyers
As teams return to practice today, some without notable members still competing in the Olympics, several updates have emerged. In Pittsburgh, Kris Letang told the media, including Michelle Crechiolo, Penguins team reporter, that he is nearing 100% from his lower body injury. It’s expected that he’ll be ready for February 26 against the Devils, but not yet certain.
The 38-year-old had to miss the club’s last four games going into the Olympic break. Letang had a rough start to his 20th season with Pittsburgh, leading to questions on his outlook. Since then, the stalwart has still played heavy minutes, 22:06 a night, just behind Erik Karlsson. His 50.5% corsi at even strength is a slight improvement from last season, but still a step below the norm. Currently +3 with 25 points in 50 games, Letang has turned the corner from last season’s -15, 30 point output.
Symbolic of the team’s rebound as a whole, Letang’s Penguins are closing in on ending their three year postseason drought, as they have the opportunity to go on what could be one last dance as an unforgettable era winds down.
Also in Pittsburgh, Filip Hallander returned to practice, as reported by Crechiolo. The forward hasn’t played since November, missing 42 games from a blood clot in his leg. At 25 years old, the former second round pick is just getting off the ground in his NHL career, with all four of his career points coming this season. The timing of his ailment was especially unfortunate, costing him a chance to play in his native Sweden in the Global Series.
Elsewhere across the conference:
- Canadiens winger Patrik Laine missed today’s practice due to a lower body injury, per the team. He is still working his way back from core muscle surgery, not having played since October. Noted as a likely trade candidate last week, Laine’s days in Montreal seem to be nearing an end, although his $8.7MM price tag will be difficult to work through. The 27-year-old former 40 goal scorer will be an intriguing free agent this summer, but unfortunately his health is a major factor. Laine hasn’t dressed in more than 68 games in a campaign since 2018-19. His Habs return to action February 26 against the Islanders.
- Along with goaltender Carson Bjarnason, who was recalled earlier today, Flyers prospects Oliver Bonk and Hunter McDonald will join the team for practice this week, according to Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Bonk, a first round selection in 2023, made a case to make the team right out of the OHL but was injured in camp. Finally activated in early December, he has just six points in 22 games, indicative that seasoning is needed for the team’s top blueliner prospect, who has second pairing potential. On the other hand, McDonald, a former sixth round pick, has a more limited upside at the highest level but at 6’4” he brings serious physicality. Both defenseman are awaiting their NHL debut.
Flyers Activate, Reassign Oliver Bonk
Earlier today it was announced out of AHL Lehigh Valley that Flyers defenseman Oliver Bonk has been activated from injured reserve, and assigned to Lehigh Valley. The top prospect had a real chance to make the Flyers roster out of camp prior to going down in early October with an upper-body injury. It had been thought to be week-to-week, but finally, he is set to return.
Selected 22nd overall by Philadelphia in the 2023 draft after a tremendous career with the London Knights (OHL) where he finished as a +82, Bonk is finally set to embark on his professional career. He will join a successful Phantoms squad and provide a major boost to their defense corps headed into December, far and away the blueliner with the highest upside on the team.
As the Flyers have held their own, surpassing expectations and seemingly solving their question marks on the back end for now, they do not have to feel rushed with Bonk. Especially considering the injury, it is best for him to start out with the Phantoms and ease back gradually. The son of longtime NHLer Radek Bonk, Oliver, 6’2″, has a real chance to become a top pair defender. Although playing a different position, he has the same reliable traits as his father did, steady defensively and suited for any situation.
Outside of Cam York, Philadelphia has not hit on defensemen in their pipeline in the last few years relative to expectations, so Bonk’s performance in the AHL will be watched closely. As he is a righty, there is a very clear path forward in the organization for Bonk, and thankfully he is finally set to get going with the Phantoms.
Oliver Bonk Out Week-To-Week With Upper-Body Injury
Although reporting from a few days ago that Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk was dealing with a milder upper-body injury, it doesn’t appear he’ll return for the team’s preseason. The Flyers announced that Bonk remains approximately two weeks out from returning, which will take him past the opening night of the NHL and AHL seasons.
It’s an unfortunate circumstance for the Ottawa native who had an outside chance of making the Flyers’ opening night roster, albeit on a short leash. Still, he’s expected to begin the first professional season of his career with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
After being drafted with the 22nd overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2022 NHL Draft, Bonk has spent the last three years with the OHL’s London Knights. He has been exceptional with the renowned OHL program, scoring 45 goals and 147 points in 179 games with a +82 rating. He’s sustained that high level of play in the postseason, scoring nine goals and 41 points in 56 playoff contests over that span.
Despite not having yet registered a game at the professional level, Bonk had a legitimate opportunity to make Philadelphia’s opening night roster, largely due to the poor play of his peers on defense. Head coach Rick Tocchet has reportedly become disenfranchised with the available defense options, telling NHL contributor Bill Meltzer that nobody has stepped up enough to grab one of the team’s bubble spots on defense.
Should that disappointing play continue into the first few weeks of the regular season, the Flyers could conceivably use Bonk’s first few games with the Phantoms as a makeshift training camp. If he excels through the first few weeks, Philadelphia could recall him for an opportunity at the NHL level.
Flyers’ Ethan Samson Out Long-Term, Three Out Day-To-Day
The Philadelphia Flyers shared updates on four injured players on Thursday morning. Most notably, depth defenseman Ethan Samson is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks with an upper-body injury. Samson appeared to be outside of the NHL roster as training camp went on, but he was a standout during the team’s rookie showcase. His absence will alter Philadelphia’s plans for building their minor-league defense through the season’s first couple of months.
Samson was a pivotal piece of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season. He led the team’s defense in goals (12) and ranked second in points (24). Both were substantial improvements over the three goals and 12 points that Samson managed as an AHL rookie in 2023-24. He’s proven to be a diligent offensive-defenseman in the minor ranks, with an impressive bit of grit behind his downhill drive. He appears close to earning a spot on Philadelphia’s call-up sheet, though will now need to wait until at least mid-season to see that through.
The Flyers also announced that defenseman Oliver Bonk, and forwards Karsen Dorwart and Lane Pederson, are all day-to-day with upper-body injuries.
Bonk has carried a day-to-day designation for a full week now. He has been on and off of the ice since Philadelphia’s rookie camp, both donning a non-contact jersey and in a regular jersey. Bonk played through 69 games last season, as the London Knights blazed to an OHL and Memorial Cup championship. It seems the Flyers’ top defense prospect is still working his way back to 100 percent – a factor that could default him to the AHL when the season opens up.
While a part of Philadelphia’s injury updates, Dorwart did briefly return to the ice on Thursday after missing the last few days. He played through the first five games of his NHL career at the end of last season, after signing with the Flyers as an undrafted college free agent. He didn’t manage any scoring in those appearances. Even still, with a strong return from injury, Dorwart could still be a candidate for a depth role when the Flyers break camp. Pederson, who was injured in Philadelphia’s last preseason game, will more likely start in the AHL. He appeared in 18 games and scored 12 points with the Bakersfield Condors last season, before a separate injury ended his campaign early.
Metro Notes: Devils, Ovechkin, Capitals, Hart, Foerster, Bonk
Before taking the ice for the first session of training camp, the New Jersey Devils shared several updates on absent players. Netminder Jacob Markström, defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, forward Stefan Noesen, and prospects Shane Lachance and Lenni Hämeenaho were all absent from today’s skate.
Fortunately, Markström’s absence isn’t linked to an injury, as the Devils announced he’s dealing with a family matter. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Noesen and Kovacevic. As expected, New Jersey stated that Kovacevic is still recovering from offseason knee surgery and that he’s out indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Noesen continues to deal with a nagging groin issue, which required a procedure this summer. However, unlike Kovacevic’s timeline, the Devils didn’t indicate how long Noesen would miss or his status for the start of the regular season. Lachance and Hämeenaho were injured in the team’s rookie camp, though they’re each expected to begin the year with the AHL Utica Comets, regardless of their health status.
Other updates from the Metropolitan Division:
- The Washington Capitals got a brief scare this morning when captain Alex Ovechkin left the team’s skate early, failing to return. Fortunately, it’s nothing serious, as Sammi Silber of DC Backcheck shared an update from head coach Spencer Carbery saying that Ovechkin is dealing with a mild lower-body injury, and his recovery timeline is day-to-day.
- Unfortunately, a few more members of the Capitals’ roster are dealing with mild injuries. Earlier today, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reported that defenseman Martin Fehérváry and Justin Sourdif are skating in non-contact jerseys for today’s skate. Still, El-Bashir, nor anyone within the Capitals organization, has indicated that the injuries will affect either of their regular-season availability.
- If the Pittsburgh Penguins want prospect Joel Blomqvist to have more seasoning in the AHL, and Arturs Silovs doesn’t build on his excellent AHL campaign last year, the Penguins have little else behind Tristan Jarry, if he’s even capable of handling a majority of the workload. Regardless, they won’t be seeking outside help from a former top-prospect netminder who was recently allowed back into the NHL. Earlier today, Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported that Pittsburgh wouldn’t be one of the teams targeting Carter Hart over the next couple of weeks.
- Philadelphia Flyers forward Tyson Foerster continues his speedy recovery from elbow surgery. Providing an update in today’s media availability (via Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia), Foerster remains hopeful he could shed his non-contact jersey during training camp and is still expecting to be ready for the start of the regular season.
- Another member of the Flyers is dealing with an injury, albeit a mild one. Philadelphia announced that defenseman Oliver Bonk is dealing with an upper-body injury, and he’ll miss the next few days. Bonk is entering his first year of professional hockey, likely with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, after spending the last three years with the OHL’s London Knights.