The Lehigh Valley Phantoms opened the 2025-26 season over the weekend and went 1-1, first beating the Belleville Senators 5-2 on Saturday, then taking the loss to the WBS Penguins on Sunday 4-1. The rosters very much seemed to be in flux as the new coaching staff figures out where the best chemistry can be made.
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Devin Kaplan
Kaplan posted two goals on opening night. With the huge wave of prospects that all turned pro at the same time, The Flyers’ third round pick in 2022 has flown under the radar. But he reminded everyone who he was on Friday when he scored two goals in the first period. He didn’t get much opportunity to reproduce that result on Sunday as the Phantoms are seemingly juggling their early-season lines, but it was a head-turning start for Kaplan nonetheless.
Karsen Dorwart
Dorwart scored a goal on Saturday and overall felt like one of the more noticeable players over the course of the weekend. Much like Kaplan, he may not have the prestige of some of his fellow prospects, but if he can play with that kind of fire more often than not, an NHL return should be in his future eventually.
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Emil Andrae
Andrae was wearing an “A” on Saturday as he posted two even-strength assists before getting recalled to the NHL on Saturday. Quite frankly, it was a joke that he was ever sent down to the AHL, but he went down, did what he always did which is produce, then when the Flyers realized how terrible their main roster D-corps is, they brought him back up. Does he get a real opportunity this time? TBD.
Alexei Kolosov
Kolosov was the opening night starter and save 27 of 29 shots in route to a victory. He was bullet proof for the first two periods, then allowed two of the softer goals you’ll ever see in the third. The fact that he’s in the AHL and seemingly cooperating this time means that he may actually develop this year, but his opening night results where similar to what we’ve come to expect from the guy- some potential mixed with wondering how he made it this far to begin with.
Carson Bjarnason
Bjarnason allowed three goals on 29 shots and took an “L” on Sunday. For what it’s worth, the loss wasn’t on his shoulders. The team didn’t play all that hard and the rookie goalie turned in what was easily his best performance so far compared to his NHL and AHL preseason games.
Ty Murchison
Murchison was technically the third-pair LHD in both games over the weekend, but it sure felt like he was the defenseman that stood out the most in a positive way. He even landed an empty-netter on Saturday to seal the win. On paper, the Phantoms’ D-corps is just about as underwhelming as their main-roster counterparts, so if Murchison can keep standing out, not only would it be a positive surprise, but he may be their top guy in short order.
Denver Barkey
Barkey registered a powerplay assist on Saturday, but went -2 on the weekend and largely just kind of existed out there. He’s one of the more intriguing and high-profile forward prospects the team has, so the fact that he mostly faded into the background on opening weekend isn’t great. But, the were his first professional hockey games, so it may take a minute for the smaller forward to get accustomed to his new surroundings.
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Alex Bump
Bump went pointless with a -2 rating during his first two games of the season. He’s the early front-runner for most disappointing start to the season. After being the best player on the ice after he joined the Phantoms late in the season, he failed to make the NHL roster out of camp and has largely been underwhelming during both the AHL pre-season and opening weekend. It, hopefully, is only a matter of time before this changes, but so far, so not good for Bump.
Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala was scratched on opening night and didn’t do much on Sunday when he entered the lineup. If scratching their third-year pro on opening night doesn’t tell you all you need to know about Tuomaala’s standing as a prospect these days, I don’t know what will.
Massimo Rizzo
Rizzo didn’t play in either one of the games over the weekend. Have to assume that was due to some kind of injury considering every other healthy body got at least one game in, but even still, considering his 2024-25 season was ravaged by injury as well, it’s not a promising start one way or another for the sophomore forward.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
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