Flyers Cut Alex Bump After Michael Bunting Signing

The Philadelphia Flyers have made their first roster move since signing veteran winger Michael Bunting on Tuesday, sending Alex Bump down to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to clear a roster spot and a place in the lineup.

The move doesn't exactly come as a surprise by the Flyers, as Bump, 22, had just four shots on goal in three games this season, and was benched in Game 2 against New Jersey, finishing with just 8:18 of ice time.

Bump was a healthy scratch for the Flyers for Monday's 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet opting to dress the now-healthy Denver Barkey instead.

With Barkey healthy for the first time since the early stages of training camp and Bunting now in the fold, the Flyers have decided that, rather than having Bump waste away in the press box, the promising young forward will instead get game time and reps down in the AHL with the Phantoms.

Presumably, Bump will immediately assume a top-line role with the Flyers' farm team, reuniting with good buddy Cole Knuble, who enjoyed a fantastic training camp, and top center prospect Jett Luchanko.

The 22-year-old winger scored five goals, four assists, and nine points in 17 games with the Flyers last season, and added two goals in six playoff appearances.

The NHL can be unpredictable, as has been established amid the Flyers' woeful 0-2-2 start, and there is a very real possibility it may not be long before Bump finds himself in the NHL again.

An underwhelming training camp and preseason slate didn't work in his favor, and the dire state of the Flyers as currently constructed left them in a difficult position.

For now, Bump returns to the AHL with the Phantoms, for whom he scored 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points in 36 games last season before earning his promotion to the NHL ranks with the Flyers.