The long-awaited youth infusion is about to begin for the Flyers! Between the handful of players that signed at the end of the 2024-25 season and the others that are going to make the jump to the pro level during the 2025-26 campaign, there’s going to be quite a few new faces in the organization. But do any of them make the main roster during the 2025-26 season? Let’s take a swim through the prospect pool and find out!
Likely
Alex Bump
Fresh off a NCAA National Championship, Bump, the Flyers’ fifth round pick in 2022, joined the Phantoms for their playoff push and was immediately one of the best players on the team. The main roster winger corps is still full as of this writing, but Bump is easily the most likely prospect in the organization to be on the opening night roster.
Nikita Grebenkin
Grebenkin was acquired from the Maple Leafs in the Scott Laughton trade, and immediately became a fan-favorite with the Phantoms due to his colorful personality and his on-ice presence. He scored 11 points in 18 games in Lehigh Valley with a penchant for the power play. He’s going to need to stand out in a big way given the overcrowded state of the main roster winger group, but it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he sees NHL action at some point in 2025-26.
Fun fact: Grebenkin was selected two picks after Alex Bump in 2022 (133 and 135 overall).
Oliver Bonk
Bonk immediately becomes the team’s best defense prospect, though it’s largely agreed upon that he is going to need some AHL seasoning before he’s a regular. But Bonk’s chances of making the opening night roster go up significantly given the fact Rasmus Ristolainen will likely start the season on IR, so if he does show up to training camp and plays himself into a spot, he might have one, at least for a little while.
Intriguing
Jett Luchanko
Unlike everyone else on the list, Luchanko is NHL or Juniors next season. He’s not eligible for the AHL. If the Flyers don’t address their center depth with legitimacy during the offseason, it’s totally believable that they try and force Luchanko into the NHL, ready or not. But in a perfect world, he probably goes back to Guelph for the 2025-26 season.
Denver Barkey
Barkey was a third round pick who had a hell of a post-draft run with the London Knights, the team he captained to a Memorial Cup in 2025. His size is a bit all over the place depending on which source you reference, but 5’9″ 170ish pounds seems to be around the agreed upon metrics. He probably moves high on the list of organizational forward prospects, but unless he sticks at center full-time (which is unlikely) he probably starts the season with the Phantoms.
Helge Grans
Grans has a fresh two-year extension in tow, which theoretically means he’s in the organization’s plans for the future. As a righty, he’ll be throwing his hat in the ring to replace Ristolainen on opening night, and may get his first prolonged taste of NHL action because of it. He’s probably not an NHL regular unless he really blows their socks off, but he should at least get an opportunity to do so.
Ethan Samson
Ethan Samson has come a long way over the last few seasons with the Phantoms. He, as well, will be in the running to replace Ristolainen on opening night, but will be the dark hose candidate. But if his development trajectory keeps the same positive trend, there’s no reason to close the books on any NHL aspirations just yet.
Samu Tuomaala
We’re quickly approaching now-or-never territory with Tuomaala. When he’s at the top of his game, it’s totally believable he could hang in the NHL. His shot, his speed, his surprisingly strong presence around the net, But it’s been two years now where the Phantoms have only gotten half a season of good play out of the guy before he disappears into the shadows. And he’s still on the smaller side (5’10’, 175lbs) which apparently is a no-go for the organization these days.
Unlikely
Alexis Gendron
Gendron played his first full AHL season in 2024-25 and hit the 20-goal plateau in 63 games. His overall game could still use some work, so it’s unlikely he’s at the top of the recall list just yet, but if he keeps this positive trend up he could very well be a diamond in the rough for the Flyers one day.
Karsen Dorwart
Dorwart was an undrafted college free agent that played five games for the Flyers to close out the 2024-25 season. There’s a greater likelihood that he’s closer to the Mike Vecchione category than he is a regular NHLer, so it’s probably unlikely we ever see him on the main roster ever again.
Massimo Rizzo
Rizzo’s rookie season in the AHL was marred by injuries and overall mediocre play. He posted 18 points in 46 games, spending a surprising amount of time in depth roles. If he can string a fully healthy season together, he still has a chance to rehab his stock as a prospect, but for the time being, he probably isn’t on the NHL radar anytime soon.
Devin Kaplan
Kaplan represents one of the bigger question marks in the prospect pool at the moment. He doesn’t have the pop and circumstance like some of the more recognizable prospects, but as a former third round pick, he should still be higher on the overall expectation list. The main roster forward corps is just way too crowded right now, so it’s unlikely he sees NHL time in 2025-26 but should be on the map soon enough if he stands out with the Phantoms.
Ty Murchison
The Flyers’ fifth round pick in 2021 signed with the team late in the 2024-25 season and suited up for four games with the Phantoms on an ATO where he recorded his first professional goal. He’s a left-handed defenseman on a team with way too many left-handed defensemen, so don’t expect for him to jump the line during his rookie season.
Carson Bjarnason
Bjarnason makes the jump to the AHL level and will more than likely see a lion’s share of the starts with the Phantoms next season. Even with the main roster goaltending disaster, there’s not much of a chance they turn to the 20-year-old already to sooth their problems.
Hunter McDonald
McDonald’s rookie season in the AHL was a mixed bag. He still has flashes of brilliance, but still has the typical big man problem of finding the sweet spot when it comes to utilizing his size in a positive way. Sometimes he looks great, other times like a classic big oaf. If the front office still loves the guy, he may see some NHL action this year in the case of injuries, but otherwise, he needs to prove that he can take consistent steps in his development before making the jump to the NHL.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: Philadelphia Flyers
brotherlypuck.com 