The Philadelphia Flyers held the first day of their 2024 development camp on July 2, hosting a crop of talented prospects, who are all vying for coveted looks from the organization higher-ups, including London Knights defenseman Oliver Bonk.
The Philadelphia Flyers held the first day of their 2024 development camp on July 2, hosting a crop of talented prospects, who are all vying for coveted looks from the organization higher-ups.
One such prospect, who is participating in his second development camp, is a name that many Flyers fans will know well—Oliver Bonk, who is coming off of a hugely successful season with the London Knights in the OHL, took to the ice with other Flyers prospects, but he was able to stand out for a number of reasons.
"I think his confidence really shows out here," said the Flyers' Director of Player Development Riley Armstrong. "He looks like he's played pro hockey already in the way he handles himself in the locker room and out on the ice."
Armstrong had high praise for Bonk's play throughout the OHL season, where the 19-year-old showed in game after game that he was one of the best defensemen in the league.
"Throughout the course of the year, he never put a teammate in a bad spot when he's breaking a puck out," Armstrong said. "I think 'Bumper Bonk' got put into play there and I think his confidence grew on the powerplay and scoring goals in that area, so I just believe he knows who he is as a player.
"He's so smart, covers for teammates well, breaks pucks out well, and he's rewarded with the offensive opportunity at the end of the day. We're definitely looking for big things from him coming into training camp this year."
If you were to ask Bonk himself, he reckons that he's come off of the OHL season "a more developed, smarter player," adding that he got to "try more stuff [and] get comfortable with [my] game."
A significant part of that development came on the powerplay, where Bonk was a top producer in the "bumper" position, a role not typically entrusted to a defenseman. His contributions gave him the nickname "Bumper Bonk"—a moniker that he says was "kind of pushed on me" by his London teammates, but something he can find the humor in.
"It was funny," he admitted. "Teammates would call me it jokingly, but it was a fun thing during the year."
All jokes and nicknames aside, being so good on the powerplay largely helped grow his confidence on offense throughout the season.
"I think a big part of it was that powerplay started clicking really well," he said. "It's easy when you get a one-timer from five feet away, that also helps, but also I got more trust from the coaches to try to find [my] offensive side more.
"The year in London definitely helped a lot. You get more comfortable with your game, you get more comfortable with yourself, you get to try more stuff, and you're an older guy so the coaches really have you on a longer leash, so it's good for the confidence."
But Bonk doesn't rate his one side of his game higher than the other. In fact, he takes pride in being an intelligent two-way player.
"I just think I'm overall a smart player, a two-way player—not just defense and not just offense," he said. "I think the biggest part about me is just smarts and using your IQ—not the biggest, not the fastest, not the strongest, but I think I can always use my head to outsmart guys and get in better positions. Overall, just a smart, cerebral [defenseman]."
To sweeten the deal for Flyers fans, Armstrong emphasized that Bonk has admirable character off the ice as well.
"He's [mature] away from the rink," he stated. "He's already beyond 19 years old. It's fun to get to know him a lot more being out here and going to London and watching him play."
Oliver Bonk at Flyers development camp
While Flyers GM Danny Briere has stated that the Flyers expect Bonk and Denver Barkey (another exciting Flyers prospect and Bonk's London Knights teammate) to spend another season in the OHL to continue developing their games, Bonk has come into his second development camp with the mindset that he has what it takes to stay in Philadelphia and get looks with the senior Flyers team.
"You've gotta come in here believing you'll make the team," he said. "It's probable that I go back, but they didn't tell me, 'For sure you're going back [to London]," and they didn't tell me, 'For sure, you're staying [in Philadelphia],' but you've just gotta put it in your head that you want to stay here. If you already think you're going back, then you're probably gonna be back there."
