Oliver Bonk’s goal is to make the Flyers’ opening roster. The defenseman is off to a good start.
Bonk, 21, had an assist in Sunday's Rookie Series game and knows a condensed training camp leaves him fewer opportunities to make his case to the brass.
For the first time, Oliver Bonk is entering training camp with a bit of NHL experience.
He made his NHL debut in the Flyers’ final regular-season game of the year, scoring his first NHL goal against Montreal a night after the Flyers clinched a playoff berth. He spent the playoffs practicing with the big club and returned to the lineup for Game 4 against Carolina, in the game where the Flyers were eliminated from the postseason.
That experience is a “confidence booster” heading into this year’s training camp, but it hasn’t changed the 21-year-old’s approach as he looks to make the opening night roster for the first time.
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“You can’t just come out saying, ‘Oh, I played one game in the NHL last year, I’m good. I can take this rookie camp off,’” said Bonk, whose hopes to make last year’s team were derailed by a preseason injury. “I think every game has been my best, and I’ve got to keep building on it.”
Bonk joked that he attempted to improve “everything” this summer, but said he spent significant time working on his skating. Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden praised Bonk for his transition game and ability to jump into the play at the right time.
With Rasmus Ristolainen still with the organization despite persistent trade rumors, there’s only one spot on the Flyers defense that doesn’t return an NHL regular from last year. Bonk, along with David Jiříček and newcomer lefty Simon Benoit, who was acquired in the Joseph Woll trade, will be among the biggest contenders.
“Where he ends up is up to Bonker,” Snowden said. “I think he’s done everything to put himself in a great situation to fight for a spot on that team.”
The NHL season is now 84 games, which means a shortened training camp for all players. Snowden said that at the start of rookie camp, he told the Flyers’ prospects to treat rookie camp like their training camp. There will be limited runway to make an impression in main camp and in the four preseason games.
That’s why the Rookie Series games took on increased importance. Bonk assisted Denver Barkey on the first goal of the Flyers’ 4-1 win over the New York Rangers’ rookies on Sunday. He also was in the bumper spot on the power play.
“In the rookie games, it’s that time to test yourself and see how far you can go, see how many plays you can make, see how well you can do,” Bonk said. “It’s kind of like the test before the big dance.”
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If Bonk doesn’t earn that third-pairing spot out of camp, which begins Thursday in Voorhees, he’s likely to return to Lehigh Valley to play every night. He’d likely be one of the first AHL call-ups in case of injury or a trade.
“It’s just continuing to teach and find the moments that are going to help him be an everyday NHL player,” Snowden said. “He’s got the right mindset, he’s got the right attitude, and he works the right way to give himself a chance for that.”
Breakaways
Denver Barkey and Jett Luchanko were not on the ice for skate Monday. Snowden said it was “maintenance” and that both players would be back on the ice on Tuesday for the final day of rookie camp. Luchanko played in both Rookie Series games, while Barkey only played on Sunday.
