September has arrived, and that means hockey will happen this month. Before teams start finalizing their rosters, rookies will hit the ice, giving themselves a chance to catch the attention of their respective teams.
For the Flyers, they will have 22 skaters and two goaltenders on the Voorhees ice starting on Thursday. That includes various members of the most recent draft class, recent trade acquisitions, and those who may be on their last chance to impress.
For a variety of different reasons, there are a few players who will have more eyes on them than the others.
Jett Luchanko
Luchanko faces another year of trying to make the Flyers' roster out of training camp. And because of his age, he will either need to play in the NHL or face a return to juniors. His junior team, the Guelph Storm, recently named a new leadership group that does not feature their now former captain. Could that mean they don't expect to have him back? It could mean something, or it could mean nothing.
Luchanko impressed enough last season to earn an audition when the games mattered. But as time went on, it was clear he was overmatched by the speed of the game. The Flyers also weren't in a situation to lean on an 18-year-old. Back in Guelph, he was one of the centerpieces of an offense starved for talent. He debuted with the Phantoms after his junior season ended, posting nine assists in 16 games between the regular season and playoffs.
A return to Guelph is not out of the question, but would it be the best place for him to continue developing? Luchanko will have the next month or so to prove to the Flyers that he has put in the work to be a factor at the NHL level.
Honorable Mention: Alex Bump
Bump has become one of the top prospects in the Flyers' system with his development in college. With a chip on his shoulder, he is out to keep proving everyone wrong who passed on him in the draft. And while Tyson Foerster is expected to start the season healthy, Bump should have every opportunity in front of him to make the NHL roster.
Oliver Bonk
Entering his first professional season, Bonk will be taking a run at a spot on the Flyers' defense. He played in all situations for the London Knights and was a key factor on their power play. It's unlikely he could play the same role in the NHL, as he was primarily used in the bumper position. But his growth in London was evident.
Bonk struggled in his initial preseason action last year, but with the experience under his belt, he should be more prepared this time around. With an injury to Rasmus Ristolainen and uncertainties on the Flyers' third pairing, Bonk has a chance to surprise during camp. It's more likely that he would need some seasoning in the AHL first, and could later be used as an injury call-up.
But plenty of eyes will be on him and he could get a rather long look in training camp.
Honorable Mention: Hunter McDonald
Many in the Flyers organization have been excited for McDonald and his progression. A defenseman of his size is highly coveted by most teams. McDonald played in his first professional season for the Phantoms last year. It was an up-and-down year for the defenseman, but there were positives to take away from it all. He should be in a prime position for big minutes this upcoming season.
Carson Bjarnason
With the Flyers' struggles in net, all eyes will be on Bjarnason as he transitions to the professional level. The former Brandon Wheat King has progressed well over his four years in the WHL. He posted a 2.93 goals-against-average and a .913 save percentage last season, both being career-highs for the 20-year-old.
An injury kept him from making his debut with the Phantoms last season, though he did back up as the team's playoff hopes came to an end against Hershey. Now healthy, Bjarnason should get a chance to earn the starting job in the AHL. It will depend on if and who the Flyers might hold onto as a third goaltender behind Sam Ersson and Dan Vladar.
With Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov in the mix, Bjarnason will have plenty of competition. But that isn't a bad thing for a young goaltender looking to make his mark. Bjarnason should have at least a season in the minors to continue working on his game. Unless things go haywire, which isn't out of the question.