The Philadelphia Flyers rookies completed a weekend sweep of their New York Rangers counterparts at the PPL Center in Allentown. Coming off the 3-2 victory on Sunday, the Flyers side prevailed 4-1 on Sunday.
Alex Bump led the first offensively in the first game, with a goal and an assist. Philly also received tallies from Cole Knuble and Matthew Gard. Carson Bjarnason went the distance in goal, earning the win.
In the second game, defenseman Brek Liske notched the game winner with a second period buzzer beater that broke a 1-1 deadlock. Denver Barkey, Noah Powell (empty net) and Porter Martone (empty net) notched the other Flyers goals. Czech netmiders Martin Psohlavec and Marek Sklenicka split the work for the winning team.
With only one practice and a morning skate ahead of Saturday's game, the goal was not to play a seamless series with no mistakes. Likewise, there were no big picture conclusions to be drawn about which players are poised for breakout seasons.
Nevertheless, every player wanted to exit the Rookie Series feeling like he'd shown building blocks for the identity of his game: skilled players make some things happen offensively, physical players set a tone, etc.
That aspect is one of the two main things the Hockey Operations staff wanted to see from the Rookie Series. Winning the games is nice, but it's more important to see as many players as possible show understanding of what the organization wants from them. The other outcome -- no major injuries in the Rookie Series -- isn't entirely controllable. Thankfully that, too, was the case in this year's series.
Here are five Flyers takeaways from the two games.
1. Luchanko. It was no coincidence that 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko centered the first line in both games. Most of the other marquee Flyers prospects played only one of the two games. With Luchanko coming off core muscle surgery and a somewhat disappointing draft-plus-two junior season, he faces pressure heading into his first full pro season.
The Flyers know Luchanko is an excellent skater. They wanted to see him look unhindered physically -- and to attack effectively through the middle -- in the two games. He did that, especially in the second match.
Meanwhile, the organization knows Luchanko is a responsible two-way player and a skilled passer. They wanted him to approach the Rookie Series with more of a shooting mentality. He did that, too. Now he has to sustain and expand it.
2. Barkey. The Flyers put a C on Denver Barkey's uniform for Game Two (he didn't play the first game). Doing so was a clear statement not only to Barkey himself -- the organization was thrilled with his rookie season -- but also to every other player in Flyers rookie camp.
Barkey is in Rookie Camp because of his age. He's already an NHL player, because of his non-stop motor. That's the only way he knows how to play, and he wasn't about to dial it down before NHL training camp. Barkey set an example the organization hopes rubs off on everyone, regardless of experience level or entry-level contract status.
Many of the same things could be said about the impression Cole Knuble made in the Rookie Series. Playing only one of the two Rookie games -- keep in mind that Knuble is entering his first full pro season -- is sometimes an indication that the organization is already comfortable they know what they have in a player.
As expected, Porter Martone, Barkey, Bump, and Oliver Bonk dressed in one game apiece. Meanwhile, so did Knuble. He played in Saturday's game, and played quite well.
3. Powell. If the New York prospects didn't know much about Noah Powell heading into the Rookie Series, they do now. The power forward was ultra-physical -- and agitating -- in both games. He played right to the whistles and sometimes beyond. Powell dropped the gloves in both games. As a bonus, he bagged an empty net goal in the second match.
4. The defensemen. Taken on the whole, the Flyers defensemen played well over the two games: quick sticks, good feet, some heady plays. That didn't mean there were no misreads or rough moments here or there. But in terms of showing physical potential and poise, the D-men who dressed over the two games had a good weekend.
Liske, for example, looked good on both sides of the puck. He also saw power play duty in both games, and handled it pretty well. Bonk saw time on the bumper on Sunday. Spencer Gill showed good feet and a quick stick.
5. Bjarnason. Carson Bjarnason had a rough time in last year's Rookie Series. He fared much, much better this time around. He looked fluid and more confident. He also handled the puck a lot more frequently and confidently than a year ago. It was an encouraging start to his second professional season.
