5 Most Impressive Flyers Rookies from Rookie Camp
Apr 2, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Porter Martone (94) celebrates with teammates after assisting a goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Flyers don’t open full training camp until Sept. 16, but some of the players who have the most to prove this season have already started to make their case in Allentown.
The Flyers split their top prospects across the two rookie games against the New York Rangers on Sept. 12 and 13, giving each player one shot to be seen before main camp opens. Full camp opens with a 13-day sprint to the Sept. 30 opener. General manager Daniel Briere knew that this was his chance to evaluate his young players a little more closely, and he let them know this.
“We told our young guys playing this weekend, make us notice you,” Briere said. “The coaching staff is going to be here watching you guys from upstairs.”
Alex Bump, Jett Luchenko, and Maksim Sololovskii played in the opener, with Porter Martone, Denver Barkey and goaltender Carson Bjarnsson playing the second game. Barkey was wearing the “C” for the Flyers. It was on him particularly to show Briere that he is ready to be a full-time NHL player and can follow up on the success he had last season.
“Does it get to his head? Did he take the summer easy? Is it going to be the second-year jinx that a lot of guys have?” Briere questioned. “That’s my worry. Same thing with Barkey. Same thing with Bump. Those guys got a little taste last year, had some success. Those are the things that keep me up at night.”
There were five players that left Allentown with the most chatter, each for a different reason.
Denver Barkey
Barkey looked like the best player on the ice for a second straight year, even with more high-end competition around him this time. Wearing the “C” in Game 2 only underscored what the Flyers already knew. He competed at the NHL level last season and has likely played his last AHL games. He finished the season playing center in the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes and didn’t look at all out of place. Though he is smaller in stature, he never got bullied last season nor in these rookie games. He is ready to make an impact on the Flyers.
Jett Luchenko
Luchenko’s weekend was a juxtaposition. In the opening game, he set up a goal with a beautiful stretch pass through the neutral zone, but the main knock on him kept coming up: he has an aversion to shooting the puck and defers to his teammates in the offensive zone, rarely carrying the puck up the ice.
In Game 2, that changed. He carried the puck into the offensive zone with confidence and the speed he’s been missing. He’s still a 2025 first-round pick trying to prove he’s ready for more than a support role, and the second game was the clearest sign yet that the tools are there. He just has to make the mental leap to get there.
Porter Martone
When Martone was on the ice, it felt like all eyes were on him and for good reason. He finished the game with a goal, an assist, and five shots, proving that his playoff appearance was not a fluke. The only blemish came when he was watching the puck in the offensive zone and turned it over, which led directly to the Rangers’ lone goal. Even with that, John Snowden marveled at Martone’s game and how fast he made the recovery mentally.
“That’s what good players do. They short-memory things,” Snowden said. “He’s a player that’s always looking to make a play. That’s what we need him to do, is to make those plays and be offensive. He responded very, very well.”
Even the empty-net goal came off a shift where he was making plays on the ice that seemed invisible to others, a sign that he is a step ahead.
Maksim Sokolovskii
Sokolovskii is only 18 years old and still years away from an appearance at the NHL level, made his North American debut, played in both games, and made an impact immediately. He used his 6’7″ frame to his advantage from his first shift on. He did draw two penalties for big hits, which appear to be calibration issues because of his size. He did show improvement in his skating ability, which was a bit of a question going into the draft.
The only real knock on his play was the over-aggression he played with, and how to make that switch to the NHL game, like when to pull up on a hit that is no longer necessary. These are lessons that will be learned in his development, but seeing the aggression at his size is something the Flyers really need.
Alex Bump
Bump’s night looked less like a rookie proving himself and more like a player who has already outgrown this setting. He scored a beautiful goal and had a highlight-reel assist, threading a pass between multiple Rangers defenders, essentially passing a teammate open.
This type of read isn’t something that can be taught; this ice-vision is something that is inherent, and the contrast from last year’s camp to this year’s couldn’t be more stark. Bump is ready for this next season, and it shows in his play in this camp.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible; we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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