Bonk, Barkey Returned to Junior Team

The Philadelphia Flyers began reducing their roster with the reassignment of five players, including three 2023 draft picks.

First-round draft pick (22nd overall) Oliver Bonk was loaned to his junior team, the London Knights, of the Ontario Hockey League. Bonk, a defenseman, already is under contract with the Flyers.

His junior teammate, forward Denver Barkey, was sent to London. Barkey was a third-round pick, 95th overall in 2023.

Bonk and Barkey both played in Flyers’ preseason opener against the Devils on Monday. Both are 18 years old and both won praise for their play in Training Camp.

In other roster moves, defenseman Carter Sotheran was sent to his junior team, Portland of the Western Hockey League. Sotheran was a fifth-round pick (135th overall).

The Philadelphia Flyers also released forward Jonathan Fauchon and defenseman Sam Sedley from their camp invites.

With these moves, none a surprise, the Flyers have 52 players in training camp.

Game 2

The Flyers play at the New York Islanders at 7 tonight in the second game of the preseason (no TV; radio: 97.5 The Fanatic). Philadelphia lost its preseason opener at New Jersey, 6-0.

We will publish the lineup for tonight’s game when the Flyers release it later today. There are three practice session today at Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. Tonight’s game group and another group skate at 10 and the third group skates at 11 a.m. Practices are free and open to the public.