With the Philadelphia Flyers squaring off against the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of their home finale tonight, a couple of signings from the NCAA circuit have been announced.
Initially reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers are signing Devin Kaplan to an entry-level contract that will begin this season and Alex Bump is will sign an ATO to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms ahead of their postseason run while his entry-level deal will begin next year.
The Flyers confirmed both signings this afternoon.
Kaplan was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He spent two years with the U.S. National Development Team where he tallied 14 goals and 42 points in 52 games before being selected by Chuck Fletcher and company.
The 6’3” forward then spent the last 3 years with Boston University where he scored 25 goals and 64 points in 115 games, which includes 10 goals and 18 points in 38 games this year to go along with 65 PIM.
Kaplan is signing a three-year deal but will be burning the first year of the deal as he gets fast tracked to the NHL roster with just 2 games remaining on the docket. It’s highly unlikely he suits up tonight against Columbus but there is a chance he could make his debut against Buffalo on Thursday night.
As for Bump, he will be joining the Phantoms as they finish out their season. His NHL ELC will kick in next year but the Flyers should be excited about having him in the fold after his terrific 2024-25 season with Western Michigan.
Bump was taken two rounds after Kaplan in the 2022 draft after having spent that season with the Omaha Lancers in the USHL. He then played one more season in the USHL that was split between Omaha and the Tri-City Storm before committing to Western Michigan.
In his first season with the Broncos he scored 14 goals and 36 points in just 38 games before an even better showing this year to the tune of 22 goals and 47 points in 42 games en route to the Frozen Four Championship.
Bump’s Broncos defeated Kaplan’s Boston University Terriers for their first ever National Championship.
It was a season to remember after he was named to the NCHC All-Tournament Team, named to the NCHC First All-Star Team, was the NCHC Forward of the Year, was an NCHC regular season and Frozen Faceoff champion where he won tournament MVP, and was named an AHCA West First Team All-American.
The youth movement is slowly churning as Bump will be joining Jett Luchanko, Nikita Grebenkin, and Samu Tuomaala amongst others in the AHL, whereas Kaplan will be around the likes of Matvei Michkov, Karsen Dorwart, and Emil Andrae.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login