Islanders' Alexander Romanov (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in New York.
It is the worst news possible for Alexander Romanov and for the Islanders.
Just three games into his return from shoulder surgery, Romanov tore the ACL in his right knee against the Rangers on Tuesday night, the Islanders announced. He will undergo surgery to repair the injury and miss 6-8 months.
In terms of immediate ramifications, the Islanders need to sort through options for their defense ahead of Thursday’s match against the Blackhawks.
Islanders’ Alexander Romanov (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Without making any roster moves, they can flip Matthew Schaefer back to the left side and move Adam Pelech to the second pair while bringing either Scott Mayfield or Matt Kessel into the lineup on the right.
If Pete DeBoer wants to keep Schaefer on the right, though, that could mean calling up either Isaiah George or Kashawn Aitcheson to play on the left. Flipping Schaefer was in no small part about giving Romanov top-four minutes, so it’s not clear whether that will remain the plan.
Longer term, this is a blow to GM Mathieu Darche’s plans.
With Romanov’s full no-trade clause set to kick in on July 1 of next season, Darche had to decide by then whether he saw the 26-year-old as enough of a cornerstone to justify a $6.25 million annual salary that extends through 2033.
It’s believed that there would have been interest in Romanov around the league should Darche have decided to move him, in part because that salary number is suddenly attractive for a potential top-four defenseman.
Now, though, chances are that Romanov’s no-trade clause will kick in with him having played just 18 games in two seasons. So not only will the Islanders be unsure what they have in him, but the rest of the league will be far less willing to take a shot on a player under a long-term contract with a complicated injury history.
It has been well-documented over the last several days that the Pittsburgh Penguins have a logjam at the forward position.
And, on Wednesday, some of that was cleared up.
Ahead of their Wednesday night matchup against the Washington Capitals, the Penguins acquired left defenseman Spencer Stastney from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Filip Hallander. Hallander, 26, has a goal and three points in two games so far this season and was a healthy scratch in Pittsburgh's 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Monday.
Forward Andrei Kuzmenko was also granted non-roster status by the league, opening up a roster spot for forward Bryan Rust to, potentially, be activated from injured reserve for Wednesday's game.
Stastney, 26, has yet to play a game this season despite being kept on Edmonton's NHL roster. Last season for the Oilers, the 5-foot-11, 196-pound blueliner appeared in 66 games split between the Oilers and Nashville Predators, accumulating two goals and 10 points and coming in at a minus-11.
The acquisition of Stastney - and corresponding move to ship out Hallander - gives them another option on a thin left side of the blue line and alleviates the congestion on the Penguins' forward front, as they simply had too many NHL-caliber forwards and not enough spots on their NHL roster.
It is not yet confirmed whether or not Stastney will be available for Wednesday's game, although it's probably safe to assume he won't be. The next stop for the Penguins will be the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus on Friday.
The hammer dropped Wednesday afternoon. The Islanders announced the devastating news that Romanov suffered a torn ACL, and will be out the next 6-8 months.
#Isles Injury Update: Alexander Romanov will require surgery to repair an ACL tear in his right knee. He will be out 6-8 months. https://t.co/2ANqRbHy24
For Romanov, you just can't help but feel all the sympathy in the world for the Russian defender.
Romanov's an electric personality in the locker room, is Ilya Sorokin's best friend, and for the second straight season, his season's over before Thanksgiving.
The Russian defenseman's season ended last year in Dallas when Mikko Rantanen threw a cheap-shot hit into the boards, causing a major shoulder injury to Romanov.
Romanov came close to returning and might've been ready for the playoffs had the Islanders made it.
The 26-year-old played 15 games last year, and only three this year before this ACL tear.
The play the tear happened, Romanov's final shift, looked almost entirely innocent.
This will be the first of four meetings between the Penguins and Capitals this year, and it carries extra meaning. Alex Ovechkin announced on Monday that he will retire at the end of the 2026-27 season, making this one of the final matchups between him and Sidney Crosby.
The Capitals are 1-1-0 to start the season. They beat the Carolina Hurricanes in their first game, then lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. This will be their first home game of the season.
The Capitals were busy this offseason and made several additions, especially at forward. They traded for Jordan Kyrou and signed Alex Tuch in free agency. When healthy, they have one of the best forward groups in the entire NHL.
It'll be a good test for a Penguins team that's trying to erase that stench from Monday against the Jets. Logan Thompson will start in goal for the Capitals.
The Penguins held an optional morning skate on Wednesday, and head coach Dan Muse confirmed after the skate that Arturs Silovs will start in goal. Bryan Rust, who fully participated in Tuesday's practice, is a game-time decision. I think he has a good chance of playing.
Here are the expected lines and pairs:
Forwards
Lapierre-Crosby-Rakell
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Koivunen-Kindel-Rust
Dewar-Lizotte-Robertson
Defensive pairs
Carlile-Karlsson
Girard-Korczak
van Riemsdyk-Letang
Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
One storyline emerging this season is Aatu Räty's playing time. The 23-year-old was scratched for the first two games of the campaign and is averaging 9:43 per night. More healthy scratches may be coming for Räty in the near future as he was the extra forward at practice on Tuesday before the Vancouver Canucks departed for their six-game road trip.
The debate around Räty's usage isn't new. There were many questions last season, as the Finnish center also spent portions of the campaign in the press box. While it is very early, it looks like a similar situation could be emerging despite the change in coaching staff this off-season.
One of the best cases for Räty to be included in the lineup is his ability to win faceoffs. He finished the 2025-26 season winning 60.5% of his draws and is already up to 61.5% this year. While there is some debate on the importance of faceoffs, having someone that reliable on the bench can be beneficial, especially in the defensive zone or late in close games.
As for the flip side, Räty's offence has been a major question mark at the NHL level. In 104 career games, he has found the back of the net 12 times while recording a total of 27 points. While fourth-liners aren't expected to be high point-getters, Räty's point total is concerning.
Finally, there is the question of whether Räty's game matches up with Manny Malhotra's system. The Canucks want to play with speed down the middle, which is something the former second-round pick is not known for. As for the move him to the wing debate, Räty hasn't played that position in his career, which means additional work both on and off the ice to learn how to play either left or right wing.
In the end, the situation surrounding Räty is complicated. Vancouver can't send him to the AHL, as he requires waivers and would very likely be claimed. Ultimately, Räty's usage will be a storyline to follow this year, as more healthy scratches will lead to plenty of speculation about his future.
Oct 3, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Aatu Raty (54) reacts during warm up prior to a game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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EAST MEADOW, NY -- The plan is for New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal to skate on Thursday, per head coach Pete DeBoer.
Barzal, 28, missed the entirety of training camp, all four preseason games, and the first three regular-season games due to inflammation in his left knee. He sustained the initial injury on Feb. 1, 2024, which required a minor procedure, and has been managing it since.
Although Barzal can be activated and play that same night given his Injured Non-Roster status, the Islanders would need to be roster compliant.
The Islanders would likely place defenseman Matt Kessel on waivers 24 hours before game day (at 2 PM ET), since players on waivers still count against a team's roster limit.
But, there's also a decision to be made about the injured Alexander Romanov, who sustained a lower-body injury in the third period of their 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
If the Islanders wanted to avoid having to waive anyone, they could place Romanov on Injured Reserve to open up the spot. Romanov would have to miss a minimum of seven days, retroactive to Oct. 6.
Barzal likely will not be ready to go against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday as he'll probably want to get a few practices in before returning. We'll see how he feels after skating and whether Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning is a realistic possibility or not.
The Calgary Flames are in a rebuild, a retool, or whatever term you want to use for the current stage of the organization.
Whatever the label, patience is going to be required at the NHL level.
The Flames are still trying to find consistency with their young NHL roster, but there are encouraging signs that the organization is building a deeper prospect pool behind it.
Calgary has invested heavily in the draft over the past few years while adding prospects through trades and other avenues. The result is a system that is becoming deeper and more interesting.
It is still far too early to make major declarations about where these players will ultimately end up, but several Flames prospects have gotten off to strong starts this season.
Through four games, Harrington has three goals and seven points with a plus-7 rating. He also leads the team in points, assists, penalty minutes and plus/minus.
His season began with a statement performance. In his first two games, Harrington recorded three goals, two assists and two fights, completing a Gordie Howe hat trick along the way.
He is also coming off a strong 2025-26 season, when he recorded 28 goals and 57 points in 61 games.
🔥Ethan Wyttenbach is back and off to a fantastic start — Here’s hoping this is the season he brings home the Hobey Baker!#Flamespic.twitter.com/8VxFV26Pms
The 20-year-old is playing at the University of Michigan, where he has two assists through two games to start the season.
Mews is coming off a shortened 2025-26 campaign in which he recorded nine points in 10 games.
Before making the jump to Michigan, Mews had a highly productive junior career, including an 82-point season in 68 games with Ottawa and Sudbury in 2024-25.
His ability to move the puck and contribute offensively makes him an intriguing defensive prospect for Calgary.
The 18-year-old made the jump to North America this season with the Sarnia Sting after playing in Finland with Tappara’s junior program.
Katolicky has two goals and three points through seven games with Sarnia.
At 6-foot-5, he brings an intriguing combination of size and skill, and his transition to North American hockey will be worth watching as the season progresses.
The Bigger Picture
It is still early.
A strong September or October does not guarantee that any of these players will eventually become NHL regulars. Development rarely happens in a straight line, and every prospect has a different timeline.
But that is also the encouraging part for Calgary. The Flames are no longer relying on one or two prospects to carry the weight of the organization’s future.
There is legitimate depth developing throughout the WHL, OHL and NCAA, with players at different stages of development and with different skill sets.
Harrington is wearing a captain’s letter and producing offensively. Wyttenbach is coming off a 59-point NCAA season and has started this year at two points per game. Iginla is beginning to establish himself in Vancouver, while Mews is producing at a point-per-game pace at Michigan. Katolicky is adjusting to North American hockey after making the jump from Finland.
None of that guarantees future NHL success. But it does give the Flames something they have been trying to build for years: options.
As the organization continues working through its current NHL rebuild, those options could become increasingly important.
The Chicago Blackhawks are 1-3-1 after their first win of the season, which also came in their first home game. Before the puck dropped, Patrick Kane received a warm welcome as he played his first home game as a Hawk since 2023.
Patrick Kane has a claim to be considered the greatest player in franchise history. There have been individual accolades in addition to an incredible amount of team success. Most of Chicago's roster were children when Kane was on Stanley Cup-contending teams.
Now, those same players who grew up watching him are skating alongside him, trying to get the franchise back on track. So far, it sounds like they really enjoy having him as a teammate and benefit from it in multiple ways.
"The nice thing is that as a teammate, his demeanor and the way he carries himself, he's not a larger-than-life figure as a human being," Spencer Knight said of Kane. "He's a really nice guy, a normal guy, fun and easy to be around. With what he's done, it's pretty impressive on all levels."
Spencer Knight is a young goaltender who hasn't spent a whole lot of NHL time around Patrick Kane yet. However, it seems that Kane doesn't act like a guy who has won the Stanley Cup three times, the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Hart Trophy, the Calder Trophy, or any of his other prolific accolades.
To be a great leader on a young team, you have to be relatable. Kane, according to his newest teammates, is just one of the guys despite all of his success.
"It's so cool to see the love and the passion that the fans have for him," Alex Vlasic said of Kane.
Young guys need to see what they can become if they just win. Patrick Kane is as beloved as any athlete in Chicago's rich history of sports, and the young players are seeing firsthand what that could look like for them.
After the game was over, especially because the Blackhawks won, there was a special buzz in the locker room. Everyone was fired up from the moment they were introduced until the final whistle. Obviously, the recognition of Kane played the biggest role in that.
“I was like a little kid in the candy shop," Sam Rinzel said. "It was really cool to see, especially as an American, growing up watching him. It’s pretty special and really cool to see as kind of a younger kid. He's been unbelievable, and it couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
On the ice, there are a lot of youth on the side of Chicago. They play a sloppy game at times, and it is mostly due to players figuring out good on-ice habits that will eventually lead to winning. The pure skill is there, which was on full display against St. Louis, but they have to put it all together over the course of a full season to take advantage.
Kane learned how to do it, and he has the wisdom to help. He isn't doing it because he has to, either. He genuinely enjoys it.
"I think it's great," Kane said about being a leader in the room filled with young players. "These guys are going to grow up together, play together, and develop chemistry on and off the ice. I think it's going to be a special group down the road. Right now, we want to be as good as we can. We're striving to be better than last year, find a way to keep ourselves in every game, get better and better as the season goes on. As the years go by, as these guys get more experience, it's going to be a pretty special group."
Patrick Kane is not in his 20s or early 30s anymore. He is beyond the years of competing for scoring titles. However, being surrounded by the youth on the current edition of the Blackhawks will help him get more out of the late years of his career. This is shaping up to be a mutually beneficial situation.
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PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Spencer Stastney from Edmonton in exchange for forward Filip Hallander.
The deal, announced Wednesday, gives the Penguins depth on the blue line.
Hallander, 26, was off to a promising start this season for Pittsburgh, scoring a goal to go with two assists in two games for the Penguins. The former second-round draft pick has struggled to gain a foothold in the NHL during his time in Pittsburgh, appearing in just 18 games across four seasons.
The Penguins will be Stastney's third team in less than a year. He was traded from Nashville to Edmonton last December, then signed a one-year deal with the Oilers in July.
The 26-year-old Stastney has four goals and 15 assists in 117 career games for Edmonton and Nashville.
As per a release by the Edmonton Oilers, the organization has acquired forward Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Spencer Stastney.
Edmonton was rumored to be looking around the trade market in the hopes of trading a depth defenseman for a forward. Speculation was that they had a deal in the works for a young Eastern Conference center with upside, but who was still unproven.
Filip Hallander, a 26-year-old left-shooting centre (6'2", 207 lbs), has made an immediate impact with the Penguins this season. In two games he has a goal and two assists and is a +4.
Born in Sundsvall, Sweden, Hallander was drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft. He was traded to Toronto in 2020 and returned to the Penguins in 2021, then made his NHL debut in 2021-22. Over four seasons he has played 18 NHL games, scoring two goals and adding five assists while averaging 12:04 of ice time per game.
Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer writes, "He finished 2nd in SHL scoring with Timra in 2024-25 (26-27-53/51 GP). He can play multiple forward positions. Oilers save over 650K on the cap with the deal."
He has spent most of his time in the AHL, where he put up 26 goals and 36 assists for 62 points, along with 44 penalty minutes, in 107 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
TRADE 🔄 The #Oilers have acquired forward Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Spencer Stastney. pic.twitter.com/aKWKdvL8j7
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Oct 6, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Gavin McKenna (92) celebrates at the bench after scoring his first NHL career goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Nick Turchiaro/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
TORONTO — No. 1 draft pick Gavin McKenna scored his first NHL goal with the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-4 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators.
McKenna scored on goaltender Juuse Saros in the second period of his fourth professional game. The 18-year-old took a pass from Auston Matthews, beat Saros with a high shot.
McKenna also had an assist on Toronto’s first goal by William Nylander for his first NHL point.
“Big monkey off the back,” McKenna said. “That one felt good. That’s a goal I’ll obviously remember forever.”
Toronto coach Jim Hiller described the shot as “a goal-scorer’s goal.”
“By trade he’s a playmaker, but that was a goal-scorer’s goal,” Hiller said. “Got his feet around it on the strong side, and he had some zip on it.”
McKenna scored and dropped to one knee in celebration before getting mobbed by his teammates.
“A bullet, top shelf,” said Toronto winger William Nylander, who finished with a goal and two assists. “I’d be very happy if I scored that one.”
McKenna said his first points felt as though they were a long time coming, longer than three games.
“Every single game I’ve been trying to get better,” he said. “I thought (Tuesday) was my best one. I think I’m taking steps in the right direction. Hopefully there’s a few more to come.”
The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade last spring, and beat the draft lottery odds by winning the right to select McKenna with the first overall selection in June.
The Yukon native who played college hockey at Penn State was just one of a number of new faces to arrive in Toronto during the off season. The Maple Leafs added goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Darren Raddysh before the club acquired winger Kirill Marchenko a day before its regular-season opener.
McKenna, who tore up the Canadian Hockey League before spending 2025-26 in the NCAA, entered play averaging 14 minutes, 32 seconds of ice time with three shots on target and a minus-3 rating through three games.
Oct 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) handles the puck during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
Brian Bradshaw Sevald/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
DETROIT — Dylan Larkin played for the Detroit Red Wings for the first time since asking for a trade, scored 13 minutes in, had an assist, and was named the first star of the game for his role in beating Ottawa.
Larkin was cheered by the same crowd that booed him when he touched the puck on his first shift of the game. Larkin was slow to get back defensively, and Ottawa’s Tim Stützle scored off the rush.
He made up for it by putting the puck in to give the Red Wings the lead later in the first period and set up Viktor Arvidsson’s goal early in the second.
More applause followed when he was announced as the first star afterward, with the polar-opposite reactions creating a fitting new chapter in one of the most bizarre ongoing stories in hockey.
“I’m trying to be a man and face it,” Larkin said. “I’m going to try to show up with my play.”
Larkin remains in limbo several months after his trade request became public and Detroit’s longtime general manager, Steve Yzerman, abruptly was moved out of that role in mid-July. He was stripped of the captaincy, reported to training camp despite being injured, missed the start of the season because of injury, and received a frosty reaction from home fans during introductions prior to their first game.
Coach Todd McLellan said following the morning skate that Larkin would play against the unbeaten Senators as long as the 30-year-old center was cleared by doctors. Larkin was activated off injured reserve prior to taking the ice for pregame warmups.
Larkin is a Michigan native who has played his entire NHL career with Detroit, which last made the playoffs in his rookie season a decade ago. That is the longest active drought of any of the league’s 32 teams.
Fans at the home opener taped over Larkin’s name with such things as “Loser,” “Traitor” and “Leavin” and at times chanted, “Sell the team.”
Larkin initially last spring gave the Red Wings only three destinations he’d accept a trade to — Florida, Minnesota and Vegas — before reportedly adding more possibilities in recent weeks. He said he was conscious of not over-celebrating his goal knowing the situation.
How close are the two sides to making a deal? The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday an update on the situation.
“As far as I can tell, though, the Bruins haven’t been close in talks with his camp over the past three months on what an extension should look like,” LeBrun wrote. “I think they had some sticker shock in June when they heard what the player might be looking for. But as the summer has gone on and salaries skyrocketed around the league, I bet that number doesn’t seem as high.
“The sides have kept the dialogue going, which is good. So there’s still a chance the Bruins eventually extend Zacha. But in the meantime, teams are naturally calling about him. So few centers ever become available.”
Zacha tallied career highs of 30 goals and 65 points last season. He has yet to tally a single point through four games this season, but assuming his production doesn’t take a nosedive, he should have plenty of value around the league if the Bruins get to a point where a trade makes the most sense.
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Pavel Zacha is in the final year of his current contract.
The Bruins need his offense. They don’t have a ton of quality goal scorers, and he’s a good bet to score 20-plus times each season if healthy. The Bruins also aren’t super deep at center. Elias Lindholm has been a massive disappointment since signing in free agency back in the summer of 2024. Fraser Minten has a lot of potential, but he’s not a traditional top-six center at this stage of his career. James Hagens could be a top-six center in a few years, but he’s still a rookie with fewer than 10 games of NHL experience.
Zacha will be 30 when his next contract begins. Giving a long-term deal and/or more than $10 million per season to a player 30-plus years old carries plenty of risk. LeBrun also noted, “I think the Bruins are worried about a long-term commitment and how it will age — perhaps sensitive to living with the Elias Lindholm contract already.”
If the Bruins haven’t worked out an extension by the time the March 1 trade deadline rolls around, and they’re not close to a playoff spot, then a trade would make the most sense. The real dilemma would be if the Bruins are in a playoff spot, or close to one, at the trade deadline and there’s no extension.
The Bruins cannot afford to let Zacha walk for nothing. Extend him or trade him. Those are the only options that make sense for the team.
There were plenty of eyes on the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night in Buffalo.
More than 20 scouts and NHL personnel were listed in the press box for the Wild's 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Among the names in attendance was one that should catch the attention of Wild fans: Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper.
Considering everything that surrounded Dylan Larkin and the Wild this offseason, Draper's presence is at least noteworthy.
Larkin requested a trade from Detroit following last season, something then-Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman publicly confirmed in June. Larkin, who owns a full no-trade clause, provided Detroit with a short list of teams he would be willing to join, with Minnesota reportedly among his preferred destinations.
The Wild and Red Wings were subsequently linked in trade discussions throughout the offseason, but nothing ultimately materialized.
That makes Draper's presence in Buffalo interesting and particularly interesting on a night when Danila Yurov scored his first goal of the season.
Yurov has been one of the young Wild players whose name has surfaced in speculation surrounding what Minnesota could potentially offer Detroit in a deal for Larkin.
The 22-year-old center is one of Minnesota's most valuable young assets and would make sense as a player Detroit would have interest in if trade conversations were ever revived.
With Draper watching from the press box Tuesday, Yurov gave him a pretty good look.
The former first-round pick opened the scoring at 13:53 of the second period on the power play. Jared Spurgeon found Yurov in the right circle, where he ripped a one-timer past Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis for his first goal of the season.
"I think Yurov and Shabanov are two guys that we need to step up and play well for us," Wild coach John Hynes said after the game. "I think they have."
Yurov finished the night with the goal, two shots and 14:21 of ice time. Minnesota eventually built a 2-0 lead before Buffalo scored twice in the third period and won 3-2 in overtime on Owen Power's goal with 37.4 seconds remaining.
Draper's attendance certainly doesn't mean the Red Wings were specifically scouting Yurov, nor does it mean trade talks between Minnesota and Detroit have restarted.
NHL teams routinely have scouts and executives attend games throughout the league, and Detroit was just one of many organizations represented Tuesday.
Larkin's trade request has not simply disappeared. He reported to Red Wings training camp in September, but said conversations about his future would continue once Detroit's new leadership was in place. He has five years remaining on his contract at an $8.7 million cap hit.
Minnesota was also reportedly one of the destinations Larkin was willing to waive his no-trade clause to join.
So when a high-ranking Red Wings executive shows up to a Wild game, and one of Minnesota's most intriguing young trade assets happens to score, it's difficult not to take notice.
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The Philadelphia Flyers have made their first roster move since signing veteran winger Michael Bunting on Tuesday, sending Alex Bump down to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to clear a roster spot and a place in the lineup.
The move doesn't exactly come as a surprise by the Flyers, as Bump, 22, had just four shots on goal in three games this season, and was benched in Game 2 against New Jersey, finishing with just 8:18 of ice time.
Bump was a healthy scratch for the Flyers for Monday's 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet opting to dress the now-healthy Denver Barkey instead.
With Barkey healthy for the first time since the early stages of training camp and Bunting now in the fold, the Flyers have decided that, rather than having Bump waste away in the press box, the promising young forward will instead get game time and reps down in the AHL with the Phantoms.
Presumably, Bump will immediately assume a top-line role with the Flyers' farm team, reuniting with good buddy Cole Knuble, who enjoyed a fantastic training camp, and top center prospect Jett Luchanko.
The 22-year-old winger scored five goals, four assists, and nine points in 17 games with the Flyers last season, and added two goals in six playoff appearances.
The NHL can be unpredictable, as has been established amid the Flyers' woeful 0-2-2 start, and there is a very real possibility it may not be long before Bump finds himself in the NHL again.
An underwhelming training camp and preseason slate didn't work in his favor, and the dire state of the Flyers as currently constructed left them in a difficult position.
For now, Bump returns to the AHL with the Phantoms, for whom he scored 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points in 36 games last season before earning his promotion to the NHL ranks with the Flyers.
David Kirouac-Imagn Images