In terms of sheer anticipation, the 2025-26 Lehigh Valley Phantoms is shaping up to be some must-watch TV. Some of the old guard has been chipped away and replaced with some of the organization’s top prospects. It’s the real beginning of what is hopefully the fruits of the organization’s drafting over the last few years. So whether it be old faces or new, who should you be on the lookout for during the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ 2025-26 season?
Number 5: Alexis Gendron
After a rookie season that was cut short by a demotion back to juniors thanks to his late December birthday, Gendron returned to the AHL last season and posted 20 goals in 63 games and was one of their better forwards by season’s end. He’s not necessarily considered a “top” prospect, but if he can continue to grow his game, and more importantly keep scoring goals, the offensively anemic Flyers may have no choice but to recognize him in 2025-26.
Number 4: Nikita Grebenkin
Grebenkin was acquired in the deadline trade of Scott Laughton, and immediately became a fan favorite due to his bubbly personality and knack for scoring on the power play. He should challenge for a main roster spot out of camp, but may lose out due to the excess of wingers currently on the team. But if he can show out in Lehigh and eventually carve himself out a nice little niche as a third line man advantage guy, the Flyers and their abysmal power play will be very thankful.
Number 3: Denver Barkey
Between guys like Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone taking the spotlight, and players like Alex Bump and Jett Luchanko filling up the hopes and dreams category, Denver Barkey feels like a real slept on underdog in the prospect pool. The 20-year-old scored 243 points 175 games and captained them to a Memorial Cup in 2024-25. He is on the smaller side, hovering around 5’10 and 170lbs, so he’ll really have to step up entering the AHL in order to live up to the potential, but don’t be surprised if he ends up being one of the better players for the Phantoms in 2025-26 either.
Number 2: Oliver Bonk
Bonk is the Flyers’ best defensive prospect, whose transition to the professional level will be intriguing to keep an eye on. He was pretty notorious for playing the bumper role on the power play in juniors, a job that he’s unlikely to see see much of at the AHL or NHL levels. It’ll be about his ability to adapt his new surroundings at a higher level of play. Though if he can hold down the fort defensively and still be a productive member of the man advantage, he may very well live up to his status as a former first round pick after all.
Number 1: Carson Bjarnason
The Flyers are going to desperately need Bjarnason to step foot into Lehigh Valley this season as a rookie and play some lights out hockey. After not drafting a goalie for the last two years, Fedotov busting out and Kolosov an even bigger disaster and their only other option is still unsigned and playing in Russia, there’s a lot of wieght on the shoulders of Bjarnason to prove he can be an NHL option sooner rather than later.
Honorable mentions
Alex Bump
In a perfect world, Alex Bump starts the season on the main roster, (odds the can be helped out if Tyson Foerster isn’t ready to go) but it’s the Flyers, they rarely function in a perfect world. He’d be their most-NHL-ready callup option if he, for some reason, doesn’t make the opening night roster. the 21-year-old forward played nine games to close out the 2024-25 season for the Phantoms. He posted five points and already looked to be one of the better players on the team.
Emil Andrae
Much like Bump, Andrae should be making the opening night roster. Andrae was one of the more obviously-set-up-to-fail guys under Tortorella, who was quick to cut his legs out from under him time and time again. Considering the Flyers are still lacking a real PP QB, they should, at the bare minimum, be giving him a chance to run the man advantage, even if he may not be a reulgar top four option. But the Flyers’ loss would be the Phantoms’ gain. An Andrae-Bonk top pair in Lehigh Valley would be very fun.
Devin Kaplan
We said Barkey was lost in the shuffle, but Devin Kaplan might take the crown in terms of being underrated in the current prospect pool. The 21-year-old was a former third round pick in 2022. He’s not going to be the flashiest player, but his size and two-way ability will immediately make him someone the Flyers will be keeping their eye on. Slotting in as the Phantoms’ top shutdown center who may have more to give offensively would be a nice addition for a team that is lacking some of their own clarity at the position.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: nhl.com
brotherlypuck.com 