Five Flyers Rookies Who Could Make Their NHL Debut In 24-25
The Philadelphia Flyers wrapped up their 2024 Development Camp last week, giving fans a glimpse at the skills of young players on the Flyers' radar. Some players were invites, some are already in the Flyers organization, but they're all vying for the same opportunity—to get a chance to prove themselves good enough for the NHL level.
Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News - Five Flyers Rookies Who Could Make Their NHL Debut In 24-25The Philadelphia Flyers wrapped up their 2024 Development Camp last week, giving fans a glimpse at the skills of young players on the Flyers' radar. Some players were invites, some are already in the Flyers organization, but they're all vying for the same opportunity—to get a chance to prove themselves good enough for the NHL level.
Now is as good a time as ever for young players to catch the Flyers' eye—their rebuild is moving in a younger direction, and they need depth in a few spots in their lineup. While a number of the prospects at this year's camp will most likely not be called up for NHL duty—with many being sent back to their junior hockey or NCAA teams to continue developing—here are five players that could make their debuts in The Show this upcoming season.
Matvei Michkov
I mean...duh. He wasn't able to attend development camp due to the immigration process coming from Russia to the United States, but it's understood that Michkov will be an NHL player this season. A prolific goalscorer with an abundance of creativity, excellent stick-handling, and a genius-level hockey IQ, there's a reason why fans have been so excited for the young Russian forward to come stateside. While he'll need time to acclimate to his new league, there's little doubt that Michkov will be able to live up to the hype.
Oliver Bonk
If you asked onlookers to choose one prospect present at development camp that looked ready for the NHL, many—if not all—of the answers would be defenseman Oliver Bonk. The Flyers' Director of Player Development Riley Armstrong gushed about how mature Bonk is on and off the ice, praising the 19-year-old's ability to read the game, use his physicality in a smart way, and stay calm under offensive pressure. And while we likely wouldn't be treated to "Bumper Bonk" on an NHL powerplay in 2024-25, with the current state of the Flyers' man advantage, it can't hurt to know Bonk has that skillset in his back pocket.
Hunter McDonald
It's no secret that the Flyers like McDonald, and that they believe in his abilities as a hard-hitting, old-school defenseman. He'll primarily be in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this year, but it's not outlandish to think that the Flyers will give him a shot to prove himself at the top level. He brings a welcome grit and physicality to the lineup, not unlike Nick Seeler or Nicolas Deslauriers, and can be a solid defensive defenseman to balance out the more offensively-inclined styles of Cam York or Jamie Drysdale. Plus, with the amount of injuries that afflicted the Flyers' defense last year, having that depth in a guy like McDonald could end up being a lifesaver.
Sawyer Boulton
He's the new kid on the block, having signed a two-way contract with the Phantoms not long before development camp started, but Boulton is nothing if not immediately impressive. He turns 20 on July 12, and spent just a single year in the OHL with the London Knights, but if you didn't know any better, you could mistake him for his father, former NHL enforcer Eric Boulton. He's not afraid to lay the hits, throw the punches, and protect his teammates on the ice, and with how rapidly he's risen in the last year, it's entirely possible that Flyers fans will get to enjoy the Bullies-reminiscent attributes that Boulton brings to the table.
Massimo Rizzo
Aside from having a name that just belongs in South Philadelphia, Rizzo genuinely has tons of potential that unfortunately went underutilized due to an injury-riddled 2023-24 season. He was still able to participate in the University of Denver's national championship-winning postseason run—his second championship, having won one back in 2022 while he was teammates with current Flyer Bobby Brink. While his recovery from his high ankle sprain limited his participation in camp, Rizzo showed why his scouting reports put him down as having top-six upside. He's got the silky hands, creative playmaking, and scoring prowess that can only serve to bolster the current offense. If all goes well with his current recovery and he can stay healthy down the line, there's no reason why Rizzo shouldn't be able to get a few looks in the NHL this season.
Make sure to bookmark THN's Philadelphia Flyers site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.