Flyers' Alex Bump Proving to be Worthy of the Growing Hype

Alex Bump (right) watches on during the Flyers' 2024 development camp. (Photo: Megan DeRuchie, The Hockey News)

The hype train for Philadelphia Flyers prospect Alex Bump grows larger seemingly by the day, and the start of his professional career is only just around the corner.

Frankly, it is hard not to be excited about Bump’s NHL potential at this point. The Flyers feel the same way, evidenced by Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr’s comments about the player during this past development camp.

“A guy like Bump, for me, every year he’s been here, you see a dramatic improvement,” Flahr had said. “He looks like an NHL player to me going forward.”

If that is not a ringing endorsement of a young prospect, I don’t know what is.

Coming into the 2022 draft, where he was selected 133rd overall in the fifth round, Bump was regarded as a poor skater, but a player with a shoot-first mentality, heaps of skill, and the ability to be a sponge and absorb coaching on the fly.

The 21-year-old didn’t blow any doors off in his first season in the NCAA last year, when he scored 14 goals, 22 assists, and 36 points in 38 games, finishing fourth in scoring for Western Michigan.

But, as Flahr noted above, we saw some dramatic improvement this season.

Now a sophomore, Bump improved his goal total by nine, jumping up to 23 goals in 38 games while adding 23 assists for a total of 46 points.

Bump’s most recent exploits saw him score two goals, including the double-overtime-winner, against the University of Denver to pull off a massive 4-3 upset and secure the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship.

ALEX BUMP 2OT WINNER FOR THE NCHC TITLE!!! THIS KID IS INSANE.#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/QC1rjJazbH
— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) March 23, 2025

In the 80-minute contest, Bump played 28:50, scored twice, and ripped off 12 shots on goal, earning MVP and NCHC Forward of the Year honors in the process.

And for those not familiar with Denver, that is a David Carle-coached team stocked with NHL talent, headlined by defenseman Zeev Buium. In total, they have 13 players with signing rights held by NHL teams.

Western Michigan has only seven such players, including Bump. Winnipeg prospect Zachary Nehring is the only forward of that group drafted higher than the fifth round.

Bump and Western Michigan now set their sights on the upcoming NCAA Regionals and, potentially, a place in the Frozen Four.

And when that is all said and done, he’ll soon be getting a call from the Flyers, asking him to sign a piece of paper.

At the pro level, expect Bump to have an impact akin to that of Jason Zucker, a six-time 20-goal-scorer and former 30-goal-scorer.

Zucker, of course, was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2010, when Flahr was an assistant general manager under Chuck Fletcher.

Like Bump, Zucker is an average-sixed winger with a shooter’s mentality and the capability of playing defensive minutes with a coach’s trust.

In Minnesota, Zucker was teammates with current Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler, Lehigh Valley defenseman Louie Belpedio, and Flyers development coach Chris Stewart.

They played with the veteran forward during that 2016-17 season when Zucker scored a career-high 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points to finish third on the Wild in scoring, even despite averaging just 16:58 of ice time.

The Flyers need that kind of production from a middle-six winger in the worst way, and Bump is looking like he can bring it.

As for a contract, expect the Flyers to resolve that in the offseason.

If they were to sign Bump to an entry-level contract now, he would burn a year of the deal, regardless of how many games he plays and where.

The likeliest path forward would be for Bump to sign an amateur tryout with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to potentially play in the Calder Cup playoffs alongside Jett Luchanko and others.

From there, the Flyers and Bump can agree to an entry-level contract in the summer. Bump’s 22nd birthday comes on Nov. 20, which is beyond the Sept. 15 cut-off date. This makes him eligible to sign a three-year entry-level contract, rather than a two-year deal if his birthday was two months earlier.

Flyers fans can expect Bump to battle with Nikita Grebenkin and Samu Tuomaala for an NHL roster spot as soon as next season.

Topics

Rasmus Ristolainen Injury Adds to Growing Concern Around Flyers

Rasmus Ristolainen, suddenly week-to-week with an upper-body injury, has played more than 70 games in a season just once since joining the Philadelphia Flyers.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Ovechkin scores his 888th career NHL goal as the Capitals beat the Flyers 3-2

Alex Ovechkin scored his 888th career goal to continue his pursuit of the NHL record, and the Washington Capitals moved to the verge of clinching a playoff berth by beating the Philadelphia Flyers ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Preview: Can UND slow down Alex Bump?

Mar. 21—ST. PAUL — The first time UND and Western Michigan played this season, UND led 2-1 in the third period. Alex Bump scored the game-tying goal, then the game-winner in overtime. He had 10 ...
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Alex Ovechkin Hits 888, Seven Away From Passing Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goals Record

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin's GR8 Chase continued at Capital One Arena on Thursday, as the Washington Capitals captain scored career goal No. 888 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Alex Ovechkin gets 888th career goal to move 7 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record

Ovechkin scored in the Washington Capitals’ home game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Gameday 72 Preview: Flyers vs. Blackhawks

The Philadelphia Flyers have spent the last few weeks proving they can go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the league.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin scores goal No. 888, inching closer to Wayne Gretzky's goal record

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers to bring him within six goals of Wayne Gretzky.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
NASCAR Cup starting lineup: Alex Bowman wins Homestead pole

Alex Bowman earns his sixth career Cup pole.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Gameday 74 Preview: Flyers vs. Maple Leafs

The Philadelphia Flyers need a win. Badly.
Yahoo Sports - 18h

Flyers' Alex Bump Proving to be Worthy of the Growing Hype

Topics

Related

Rasmus Ristolainen Injury Adds to Growing Concern Around Flyers

Ovechkin scores his 888th career NHL goal as the Capitals beat the Flyers 3-2

Preview: Can UND slow down Alex Bump?

Alex Ovechkin Hits 888, Seven Away From Passing Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goals Record

Alex Ovechkin gets 888th career goal to move 7 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record

Gameday 72 Preview: Flyers vs. Blackhawks

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin scores goal No. 888, inching closer to Wayne Gretzky's goal record

NASCAR Cup starting lineup: Alex Bowman wins Homestead pole

Gameday 74 Preview: Flyers vs. Maple Leafs

More from Yahoo Sports

Why Kirk Cousins staying in Atlanta makes sense

Why Kirk Cousins staying in Atlanta makes sense

Yahoo Sports AM: Has NIL brought about the end of the Cinderella?

Yahoo Sports AM: Has NIL brought about the end of the Cinderella?

"We Must Fight." Figure Skater Max Naumov Hears his Father's Words and Carries On

More in Sports

Source: Madrid eye move for Spain starlet Huijsen

Women's Sweet 16 rankings: UConn is No. 1, USC holds tight at No. 4

Predicting the women's Sweet 16: The case for and against every team to reach the regional final

Why Kirk Cousins staying in Atlanta makes sense

Why Kirk Cousins staying in Atlanta makes sense