Barkey, Bump have plenty of motivation after playoff run with Flyers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
John Snowden was happy Denver Barkey and Alex Bump never returned to him in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
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When Barkey was summoned to the Flyers last season in December, he ended up sticking all the way through the playoffs. When Bump got the call after the March trade deadline, he also stayed into the postseason.
The AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley head coach said the promotions were earned.
“They did all the right things when they were with us,” Snowden said in June at Flyers development camp. “They asked the right questions, they practiced the right way, they trained the right way, they played the games the right way. And when they got up and got their chance and they got to come in the door, they did a really good job at taking advantage of it and not coming back.”
Now Barkey and Bump are tasked with doing it again. Despite both making an impact on a team that went to the second round of the playoffs, they know the competition picks up when training camp arrives this fall.
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“Nothing’s guaranteed,” Bump said in June. “You have to come into camp ready to make the team. You have to push someone out of their spot almost. That’s just the reality of being a young guy coming in, you have to take someone’s job.”
Bump scored a goal in his NHL debut last season and finished with nine points (five goals, four assists) over 17 games. The Flyers went 6-0-1 when he recorded at least a point. The 22-year-old winger then had two goals in six postseason games, including one in his debut.
Last fall, Bump was staring down his first training camp. Understandably, there were “some nerves,” he said. Now having gone through it, Bump will feel more seasoned for his second camp.
“I think this coming year, it’s just on me now,” he said. “Put on some good weight, I’ve got a little taste of NHL games and the playoffs, so I know what to do and know what to expect. I’m looking forward to it.”
Barkey played over half of last season with the Flyers. Initially, the plan for his call-up was just a handful of games. But he opened eyes with his smarts and effort, playing 43 regular-season games and all 10 in the playoffs.
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The forward put up 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) before adding a goal and an assist in the postseason. During the playoffs, he also showed he could play some center.
At development camp, Barkey mentioned wanting to work on “everything” this offseason.
“Just having all that experience, knowing what it takes, day in and day out,” the 21-year-old said in June. “With the schedule of playing 82 games and the tax it has on your body, I think the biggest thing for me this summer is putting on a couple of extra pounds and working on my first three steps, getting in and out of corners.
“Having the weight and the strength to win battles and then also having that first three steps to get away from the bigger guys and have a little bit of space to make plays. I think that’ll be my bread and butter. It takes time, but definitely working toward that.”
Barkey and Bump will be battling for lineup spots with Carl Grundstrom, Nikita Grebenkin, Jett Luchanko and Zach Aston-Reese, among others.
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Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong enjoyed seeing Barkey, Bump and Porter Martone lead the organization’s prospects at development camp. Barkey captained the 2024-25 London team that won the Memorial Cup, Bump was an alternate captain for the 2024-25 Western Michigan team that won the national championship and Martone has been a captain in the OHL and at world juniors.
“It’s really cool to see them take a step,” Armstrong said in June. “Hopefully in three or four years from now, they’re leaders on the Flyers and potentially wearing letters, as well. They all did it at different levels and we’re hoping it carries over.”
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