Denver Barkey is playing above expectations in first professional season

The biggest concern with Denver Barkey has always been about his size. It's something he has had to go through at each level of hockey. But standing at 5'10" and weighing just over 170 pounds, how would he be able to combat the level of physicality in the NHL?

Turns out he's doing just fine at that. While the size has been a concern, nothing else about Barkey's game has made anyone worried. He plays much bigger than his frame, and he isn't afraid of getting involved. He invites the contact, not shying away from it. And he isn't scared to dish it out either. In 34 games, Barkey has been credited with 36 hits, averaging a little over four hits per 60 minutes.

The recall in December came as a surprise to most. The Flyers had just lost Tyson Foerster for the season, and he left a big hole to fill. There were a few choices the team could have made at that time. Barkey had only made his professional debut a few months ago. The team initially believed it would take at least a few years before he would make an impact with the Flyers.

“We thought he’d be in the minors for two or three years,” general manager Daniel Briere said Jan. 6. “You just don’t know. We’re not going to rush anybody, but when a player is ready, we’ll find a way to make room for him. That’s what we’re doing with Denver at the moment.”

And even when he was called up in December, there wasn't an expectation that he would still be with the Flyers nearly four months later. But that's the thing about Barkey, he defies expectations wherever he goes.

Barkey has once again proven himself at another level

After the Flyers handily defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, head coach Rick Tocchet called it one of Barkey's best games in the last month. How true is that? Well, the numbers tell us Barkey was certainly one of the best players on the ice in that game. Not only did he cash in on a rebound for the Flyers' third goal of the game, but he had the third-best CF% of all forwards. Only Travis Konecny and linemate Trevor Zegras scored higher, and it wasn't by much.

Let's compare that to some of Barkey's other games over that period. He actually had an even more impressive performance against the Minnesota Wild earlier this month, hitting above 70 percent in the major advanced categories. Aside from that game, though, the statement holds.

One of the most impressive parts about Barkey's game in general is that he's more than holding his own against opponents. Not only is he physically engaging, but he's coming out on top. The Flyers maintain a rather strong percentage in most advanced offensive categories whenever Barkey is on the ice. Yes, the team is getting heavily outscored when he's on the ice, but that's not all on his shoulders.

Playing with Trevor Zegras and Owen Tippett doesn't hurt, either. The three have only recently begun to play on a line together, but the early results have been strong. In almost 36 minutes of ice time, the trio is blowing other teams out of the water in terms of offensive possession. Looking at every advanced metric, they own at least a 50 percent advantage in all of them. Their "worst" statistic? They've scored two goals together and have been on the ice for two against.

It's a small sample size, and things can certainly change. One thing that has been evident in the three-plus months that Barkey has been with the Flyers, however, is that he has again proven himself capable. It came much earlier than expected, but that seems to be exactly how Barkey operates.