Flyers Blog: It’s Time to Call Up Alex Bump

The news of Tyson Foerster’s extended absence was devastating for the Philadelphia Flyers. Foerster, who was initially expected to be out 2 to 3 months, with a return expected around the Olympic break, if not after, is now likely to be done for the season. The Flyers’ forward underwent surgery to repair his upper-body injury, with 5 months of recovery expected.

Foerster’s absence has not gone unnoticed, especially on the power play. At the time of his injury, Foerster was the Flyers’ leading goal scorer.

While the injury update is a tough blow for the Flyers, it is not something they have already been planning for.

After the initial injury, we saw Nikita Grebenkin get a boost into the top nine, and Carl Grundstrom being recalled from Lehigh Valley.

Grundstrom has been fantastic since his recall. In five games since drawing back into the lineup, Grundstrom has tallied three goals and four total points. The Flyers’ fourth line was struggling mightily until Grundstrom came in and provided a massive spark.

However, in the Flyers’ last game, Grundstrom got promoted to the second line, with Matvei Michkov playing alongside Noah Cates and Bobby Brink, and Nikita Grebenkin coming out of the lineup.

Since seeing an increased role, Grebenkin has just one point – a secondary assist in just the first game with his top-nine role. Since then, Grebenkin went five games without a point and was a healthy scratch vs. Montreal.

The Flyers did the right thing. After the initial Foerster injury, they gave Grebenkin a chance to take hold of that top-nine spot. He didn’t look bad by any means, but he did not do anything more with his increased role.

Now, it’s time for the Flyers to give Alex Bump a chance.

Read More: Bad News: Flyers’ Foerster Out Months After Surgery

It’s time for Alex Bump

When Foerster was first injured, the move to recall Grundstrom rather than Alex Bump made sense. At the time, it was expected that Foerster would return, meaning someone, likely Bump, would have had to have been returned to the AHL. So, why call a kid up when he was going to go back down eventually?

Now, with Foerster likely done for the season, it makes more sense than ever that Bump should get the call.

First of all, Bump will have time to acclimate to the lineup. AHL players should not be expected to dominate right away once making the jump. It takes time, which could well have been part of the initial concern in calling him up. Why break up the positive development in Lehigh?

Bump has been having an excellent season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, tallying 7 goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 26 games. That comes with his slow start. He is ready for a shot at the NHL.

Not to mention, offensively, he plays a similar game to Foerster. Listed as 6’1″ on the Phantoms roster, Bump plays that strong forward role with a powerful and accurate shot. He is a smart player and has good hands. His skating and speed could use some work, but he has improved drastically since he started at Western Michigan. Sound familiar?

The Flyers desperately miss Foerster on the power play, and Bump could fill that void.

Bump won’t replace the penalty killing/two-way game that Foerster plays, but he could certainly help pick up some of the offensive slack left by Foerster.

Read More: Nikita Grebenkin, Flyers Ready to Adjust in Foerster’s Absence

How would this affect the Flyers’ lineup?

The next question is: if the Flyers call up Alex Bump, how would it affect their lineup and roster?

Philadelphia would not interrupt a top prospect’s development for a fourth-line role. If Bump were to come up, it would be for a top-nine role, which would almost definitely move Carl Grundstrom back to the fourth line.

To me, that’s okay. Grundstrom earned his promotion, but he was also the only spark the fourth line has had all season. Moving him back down the lineup could help create a more balanced forward unit for the Flyers.

In turn, I would pair Matvei Michkov back with Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett on the second line, leaving the 3LW spot for Bump.

The Flyers’ roster would sit at 24, so someone would have to be waived or loaned back to Lehigh.

In this scenario, the scratches would be Grebenkin, Nicolas Deslauriers, Noah Juulsen, and Egor Zamula.

Grebenkin is the only waiver-exempt player in this group. If he is not going to play, why not send him back to Lehigh and try to help him find his groove again? He certainly has had his struggles lately. Not to mention, he’d have the good ole curse of “well, he is waiver exempt…”

If Grebenkin is not playing, I would not be opposed to giving him a chance to just get some games in.

On the defensive side, the Flyers currently have eight defensemen. Noah Juulsen has become the team’s 7th defender with Rasmus Ristolainen’s return. Egor Zamula has not played since December 7th and is unlikely to see a game anytime soon. Do you try to sneak him through waivers to get the 25-year-old defenseman playing games?

No matter what the effect is on the Flyers’ roster, it’s time to call up Alex Bump.

Update

The Flyers have waived Egor Zamula, creating an open roster spot.

Read More: PhHN Daily: Flyers Tough Break; Penguins Sale; Trade Board