Coming into Philadelphia Flyers training camp there was an underlying excitement beyond the typical feeling of finally having hockey back. One of the reasons for that feeling might not be with the Flyers right now, but he’s making a loud enough noise down in the AHL that is starting to draw some attention.
Alex Bump was projected as one of the few young players that could end up making the Flyers out of camp. He had an impressive showing with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after his collegiate career wrapped up with a national championship last season and all he needed to do was show that he can take that jump after his first summer as a professional.
It unfortunately did not play out that way, as the more grind-ready Nikita Grebenkin and NHL-or-OHL center Jett Luchanko got the job over Bump, but it was more out of a need for further development and perfecting his craft than not being ready. Grebenkin can easily play in his fourth-line role and the Flyers kept Luchanko around, delaying the inevitable departure back to the OHL’s Guelph Storm.
Bump should only be playing top-nine minutes regardless and there is just no vacancy that he could fill when it comes to being a scoring winger for the Flyers.
Bump showed off this weekend in the AHL
So far, the production has come in spurts for Bump — first two games with zero earned, his third featuring a goal and an assist, the next two games going without any points once more. But it was Friday night’s matchup against the Hartford Wolf Pack where it truly felt that Bump was able to take over that game offensively.
Bump finished the game with a goal and an assist and it was during that goal where it felt like he made the game bend to his will with a rocket of a shot the moment he was given just a second of extra space.
That was a beauty#LVvsHFD| #LVPhantoms pic.twitter.com/srHuGWbbpi
— Lehigh Valley Phantoms (@LVPhantoms) November 1, 2025
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Bump took the puck where the point and the slot meet, was hounded by a Wolf Pack defender and perfectly evaded any attempted stick check, and in doing so went right into uncovered enemy territory. With that perfect creation of his own space, right up by the faceoff dot, Bump unleashed his shot and scored his second goal of the season.
It’s nothing mind-boggling or something that will force the Phantoms to go viral, but it was just a very solid display of creating your own scoring chances given what you have. He could have looked to create more of a solid possession, cycling the puck or handing it off to one of the multiple teammates he had closer to the net when he had some extra time to think; but no, Bump’s confidence is high enough to take that chance and he found success.
It wasn’t just when he actually managed to get his name on the score sheet, where Bump was impressive. There is something in the air around Bump that just makes him the most sure-of-himself player on the ice and he will attempt thing that most first-year professionals won’t even think of, especially in the first month of the season.
In the middle of the first period, before he managed to score his goal, Bump was able to show more of his confidence and overall skill level in what ended up as a very solid scoring chance but nothing came of it.
Bump with a nice move herepic.twitter.com/gga2OChMj3
— Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) October 31, 2025
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Taking the pass very cleanly to rush through the neutral zone, Bump first found pressure, thanks to a screen put on by one of his teammates, when a Hartford defender was already on his heels and the Flyers prospect just easily maneuvered his way around him for a great scoring opportunity. It’s just a wild amount of skill that even in the AHL, you only see from the very best and players that eventually make an impact at the next level.
Not only being able to pull the puck around, perfectly time the deke to maximize the opportunity he eventually has to score, but it’s also the speed and pace that Bump does it at. He didn’t completely stop his momentum, taking himself to a screeching halt to try and stickhandle his way around a defender, but to attack him and put him on his heels so that he will give up as much space as Bump needs.
Forget about the Phantoms, but we haven’t seen that much offensive aggression and confidence come from the Flyers that often (or at all) this season. It’s a big F-You energy that is brought to the ice whenever Bump sees a chance to put his impact on the game and it’s addictive. We will never get enough.
The 21-year-old winger now has two goals and five points in 10 games this season. It’s not an absolutely outstanding total or something that will make us demand the Flyers make room for him on their roster immediately, but if he keeps up with wanting to have this stranglehold on the game like he has been lately, the points will come.
For now, Bump will just continue to cook and is on track to maybe make his NHL debut at some point this season. We just hope he will bring that same tenacious energy wherever he plays.