Tis the season of NHL debuts as the college season has come to an end and players begin to sign with the teams that have drafted them. A pair of Flyers prospects that faced off in the NCAA National Championship game will be turning to the pro game.
Only one of them will be signing a contract that kicks in immediately this season. And it's not the one you think it is.
Flyers:
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 15, 2025
Boston University’s Devin Kaplan is joining the team and burning a year
National Champion Alex Bump looking like it will be an ATO with AHL Lehigh Valley, signs ELC starting next season
The team has since confirmed both signings. Kaplan's contract will kick in this season. Considering the Flyers will be playing their second-to-last game in a few hours, Kaplan is unlikely to debut tonight. However, there is a good chance he will be making his debut on Thursday against Buffalo.
Burning the first year of his entry-level contract wouldn't make sense if he wasn't going to play. Doing so with two games left doesn't make much sense, but that is due to Kaplan's college season finishing this past weekend. It was a surprise to see Kaplan sign after three years at Boston. It's possible the Flyers feel they are better served seeing his development up close.
Kaplan isn't known as an offensive dynamo, posting 10 goals and 18 points in 38 games. It was a step down offensively, but again, that is not his specialty. In three seasons with the Terriers, Kaplan had 25 goals and 64 points. Kaplan is more of a power forward and can use his big frame. He was also in a stacked Boston lineup that featured plenty of NHL-level talent. His style could translate well to the NHL, but don't expect Kaplan to start next season with the Flyers.
He is going to need time in Lehigh Valley to develop and should spend most, if not all, in the AHL. He could become a decent bottom-six forward if all goes well. But there is plenty he will need to work on if he wants to make an impact in the NHL.
The more surprising move was that Bump was not the one to sign a contract starting this season. His ELC will kick in next season as he is expected to sign an ATO with the Phantoms. This will allow him to play in the postseason with the Flyers' minor league squad. It could end up being the best decision as it will put Bump in an environment where the games are more meaningful. And who doesn't want to see him and Jett Luchanko teaming up?
Bump is easily the bigger offensive talent between the two. This season alone, he finished with 23 goals and 47 points, nearly three times that of Kaplan. Bump was top-15 amongst all Division I skaters in points and top-10 in goals. His offense cooled off in the Frozen Four, but it was easy to see that he was still one of the best players on the ice.
In two seasons with Western Michigan, Bump posted 37 goals and 83 points in 80 games. That puts him at just over a point-per-game average. He was also named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference forward of the year and was a unanimous First-Team All-NCHC selection. That came after being named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team last year. He was a finalist for Rookie of the Year in his freshman season as well.
More eyes will be on Bump as his stock has grown tremendously since the Flyers snagged him in the fifth round in 2022. It's looking like Philadelphia may have found a steal with this selection. But we'll have to wait until next year to potentially get a look at him in a Flyers' uniform.