Expect to See Top Flyers Prospects in NHL Preseason

Philadelphia Flyers fans will want to pay special attention to the team’s NHL preseason games this year.

Since Russian sensation Matvei Michkov is already a lock to make the Flyers NHL roster, it’s a given that he’ll play some games in the preseason to continue to learn, acclimate, and adjust to a new environment. But he’s not the only prospect set to do that.

Jett Luchanko, the Flyers’ 2024 first-round pick, is apparently going to play in one of the exhibition games, according to head coach John Tortorella. Defenseman Oliver Bonk, who did so last year after being drafted, is likely going to expand on his progress there.

Torts says “There is no doghouse”

And has apparently revealed that Bonk and Luchanko will play in preseason

— Jon Bailey (@ByJonBailey) September 20, 2024

Tortorella revealed his excitement for watching the two first-round picks play for him in the NHL preseason, which implies that both Luchanko and Bonk will get in at least one game.

“I’m anxious to see (Jett Luchanko) play in some exhibition games. I’m anxious to see (Oliver Bonk) get back in there and play some,” Tortorella said after Day 2 of training camp on Friday. “And there’s been a couple of surprises for me. We’ll talk about that along the way.”

Bonk and his London Knights teammate, Denver Barkey, got a taste of NHL action for the Flyers last preseason. Barkey won’t get to run it back this year as he continues to recover from a summertime case of mono, but Bonk is just one of many Flyers prospects worth getting excited about this fall.

Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr wouldn’t rule out an NHL debut for Luchanko in the form of the nine-game trial that leaves a year of his entry-level contract intact via the slide, but noted that it wouldn’t be likely.

Likewise, GM Danny Briere tapped Bonk as a player who could “have a look” at his press conference on Tuesday.

Michkov is the only one of the three teenagers slated to make an impact for the Flyers this year, but the organization is big on doing things the right way, especially when it comes to the developmental process of its younger players.

Additionally, Brandon Wheat Kings goalie Carson Bjarnason continues to get a sizable amount of reps at training camp in the absence of the anomalous Alexei Kolosov.

Plus, defensemen Emil Andrae and Spencer Gill had really strong rookie camp performances to boot.

This is all to say that the Flyers are going to let the stars out this preseason.