Flyers top prospect Oliver Bonk out again for game against the Rangers on Saturday
Bonk, one of several Flyers prospects who should push for an NHL roster spot, did not play on Friday due to load management
The Flyers’ top defensive prospect, Oliver Bonk, did not play against the New York Rangers on Friday night.
After a 4-3 overtime win against their rookie counterparts, Lehigh Valley Phantoms coach John Snowden said Bonk was held out for the first game in Allentown due to load management, but was expected to play on Saturday night against the Rangers.
According to a team source, Bonk skated with the healthy scratches before Game 2 at the PPL Center. The Flyers have not disclosed any injury, but according to a source, he is feeling better but was not ready to return to game action.
Snowden said on Saturday night he did not have an update, but that Bonk not playing was more about maintenance and getting him ready for the main camp.
Bonk missed development camp in early July because of bumps and bruises following a long season that ended with a Memorial Cup title on June 1. He was on the ice Thursday and spoke to the media after, disclosing he put on 15 pounds during the summer — by eating at Jersey Mike’s.
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Bonk is one of several prospects, including forwards Alex Bump, Samu Tuomaala, Nikita Grebenkin, and Karsen Dorwart, who should push for an NHL roster spot.
A two-way blueliner, he worked on his game last season with London of the Ontario Hockey League, potting 40 points in 52 regular-season games before adding another 14 points in 17 playoff games.
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One criticism he got last season at training camp from then-Flyers coach John Tortorella was his pace of play. He worked on it this past season.
“I think Torts was saying it last year, but just being more of a pro and moving the puck quicker,” Bonk said on Thursday. “I know Torts talked about that last year, with what I needed to work on is that I’m pretty good, but I don’t move the puck quick enough, and stuff like that. So definitely that was stuff I was working on all season, being able to transition quickly and kind of play a more professional style of hockey.”
Breakaways
On the main rink in Voorhees, the NHLers took to the ice. Goalies Sam Ersson, Dan Vladař, and Aleksei Kolosov tended the net. Tyson Foerster remained in a purple no-contact jersey as he recovers from an elbow injury and infection. Defensemen Emil Andrae, Adam Ginning, Helge Grans, Travis Saheim, and Egor Zamula skated with forwards Travis Konecny, Garnet Hathaway, Massimo Rizzo, Nick Deslauriers, Zayde Wisdom, Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, Sean Couturier, and Matvei Michkov.