"10 or so games that it took to dial it in all the way but I think I’m getting better and better every day,” - Oliver Bonk
Oliver Bonk entered the season as the top defense prospect in the Philadelphia Flyers system. The two-way defenseman, fresh off a strong showing with the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), had the inside track to join the NHL team and slowly move his way up in the lineup.
That didn’t happen. An injury sidelined Bonk until Dec. 6, when he made his American Hockey League (AHL) debut with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Then he looked lost. “10 or so games that it took to dial it in all the way but I think I’m getting better and better every day,” Bonk noted after the Sunday night game.
It took Bonk nine games to find the scoresheet. He now has five goals and 11 assists this season, with three goals and seven assists in his last 10 games. On top of that, he’s become one of the best defensemen on the Phantoms and a key part of their recent success. He’s become a player the team can lean on and win games down the stretch for the AHL team as he makes the case to join the NHL team in the near future.
Bonk Has Turned Into a Scoring Threat at the Point
Bonk has stepped up in a big way in the offensive zone. He can make a play at the point and skate near the net to add to the offense. On March 14, he scored a power play goal by finding an open look deep in the zone that allowed the Phantoms to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3 in overtime.
His playmaking at the point is a lot like Noah Dobson, as he’ll find a way to get the puck to the net and give the forwards a chance to net a loose puck. “He’s had some good touches on his breakouts, and then he joins the play. His blue line work, he’s got some touch up top, he’s got some deception and giving us opportunities for second chances,” Phantoms head coach John Snowden noted after the game.
The Phantoms haven’t been the same team on offense since the Alex Bump and Denver Barkey call-ups. They’ve needed their blue line to give them a spark. Bonk has led the way while Christian Kyrou and the recently acquired David Jiříček have also stepped up.
The Aggressive Mindset Has Strengths & Weaknesses
This is where the Flyers are skeptical of Bonk. He’s young and still learning the defensive position, and with that comes growing pains. His aggressive mindset will result in goals but cost the Phantoms goals the other way.
“I think just trying to step out of my comfort zone, I still get beat sometimes. If you get beat, you get beat, but as long as you're putting 100% effort to get back,” Bonk stated about his play lately. In junior hockey, he could rely on his skating to bail himself out. In the AHL, he can’t
It’s something Bonk is working on and noticeably improved at in recent games. “It starts with his gaps, he's way tighter to plays now, he’s physically engaged,” Snowden noted. More importantly, he doesn’t look lost in the defensive zone the way he did earlier in the season.
The Progress Makes Bonk a Key Phantom Down the Stretch
The good thing about Bonk is that he’s made significant strides since joining the Phantoms. He went from a liability on the blue line to one of the reasons they’ve won games lately. “His game is coming along nicely. We’re continuing to work with him, we’re continuing to teach him but it’s very bright right now,” Snowden added.
The Flyers added Jiříček at the NHL trade deadline, and a lot of focus is on him as the 2022 top draft selection tries to revitalize his career with his third organization. However, Bonk is the defenseman making a strong case to join the NHL team by the start of next season.