What to Watch at Flyers’ Rookie Camp

Philadelphia Flyers rookies and prospects will stride onto glistening sheets of ice Thursday morning at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees for Rookie Camp.

Twenty-five hopeful players are looking for their place in professional hockey. For some, this is serious audition to make the big club, the Philadelphia Flyers.

For most, this is a chance to impress the Flyers’ braintrust, to plant the seed that they are good players deserving of an opportunity — if not now, then later.

And to see where they stand with their peers. Do they belong?

It’s a chance for players to show how much improvement they’ve made since last season. That’s something coaches and management watch closely. Are players improving, or stagnant? How much of an upside do they show?

How badly do they want this?

Draft Picks on the Ice

Six 2023 draft picks will be on the Rookie Camp ice. This is another chance — for some, their first chance — to learn from the Flyers’ coaching staff and officials. Many eyes will be on 2023 first-round draft pick Oliver Bonk. He looked good at Development Camp but can he continue that trajectory at Rookie Camp?

Same with 2023 second-round goalie Carson Bjarnason.

For the draft picks, they will compete against older players, a big deal when some of the prospects will be three years older.

Each player knows what an opportunity this is with the Flyers in a rebuild. Such occasions aren’t frequent among NHL teams, where jobs can be scarce. Flyers management has said it wants some of the prospects to make the big club.

Not everyone will make the Flyers, of course. But the players want to impress enough at Rookie Camp and at next week’s Training Camp to show management they are but a quick phone call away from the Wells Fargo Center.

For the draft picks, they want to show they are on a career path that could include Philadelphia in the future.

One player who likely will be on the Flyers’ opening night roster is forward Tyson Foerster, a 2020 first-round pick. Another is defenseman Emil Andrae a 2020 second-round pick. Defensemen Adam Ginning (2018 second-rounder) and Helge Grans (acquired in Ivan Provorov trade) could be close to that next big step.

2023 Draft Picks at Rookie Camp

• Oliver Bonk, defenseman: First round (22nd overall)
• Carson Bjarnason, goaltender: Second round (51st overall)
• Denver Barkey, forward: Third round (95th overall)
• Alex Ciernik, forward: Fourth round (120th overall)
• Carter Sotheran, defenseman: Fifth round (135th overall)
• Matteo Mann, defenseman: Seventh round (199th overall)

2023 Draft Picks Not at Rookie Camp

• Matvei Michkov, forward: First round (seventh overall)
• Egor Zavragin, goaltender: Third round (87th overall)
• Cole Knuble, forward: Fourth round (103rd overall)
• Ryan MacPherson, center: Sixth round (172nd overall)

Rookie Camp Schedule:

Thursday

11:30 a.m.: Practice at Flyers Training Center, Voorhees

Friday

10:30 a.m.: Morning skate at Flyers Training Center, Voorhees

7:05 p.m.: Flyers vs. Rangers at PPL Center, Allentown

Saturday

5:05 p.m.: Flyers vs. Rangers at PPL Center, Allentown (NBC Sports Philadelphia+ will broadcast this game)

Sunday

10 a.m.: Practice at Flyers Training Center, Voorhees

Monday

11 a.m.: Practice at Flyers Training Center, Voorhees

Tuesday:

11 a.m.: Practice at Flyers Training Center, Voorhees

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Rookie Camp on-ice sessions at Flyers Training Center are free and open to the public. To purchase tickets for the Rookie Series, go to PPLCenter.com.