VOORHEES, N.J. – There were some who thought rookie defenseman Oliver Bonk might make the Flyers’ roster right out of training camp.
He didn’t. But it didn’t take long for that to change.
Injuries to Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York necessitated a call-up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
In his first game with the Flyers, Bonk was a forgettable minus-3 against Carolina. That sounds ominous but he really didn’t play that badly.
In Tuesday night’s 3-2 shootout loss to Seattle, Bonk was a much improved plus-1. He just looked more comfortable out there playing alongside veteran Travis Sanheim. That included pressure situations toward the end of the game and into overtime.
“You know what I loved about his game. . .he made a mistake, he had a bad change, they had a breakaway and then they (the Kraken) got the penalty shot,” coach Rick Tocchet said after Wednesday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center. “He knew he screwed up. I watched him, it didn’t faze him.
“He played better after that. I love that about a young guy. He didn’t let that moment get to him. Then you saw him make that rush play to the goal with Trevor (Zegras). That’s a big step to see a young guy do that.”
Without question, being the son of former NHL star Radek Bonk has something to do with his composure at age 21. Also, winning the junior hockey Memorial Cup twice with the London Knights factors in the equation.
“The pedigree of his dad playing in the NHL, the fact that being in London a leader there, he’s probably experienced some highs and lows and how to deal with it,” Tocchet said. “I think it’s a little bit of everything.”
Bonk drew a large media crowd in the locker room following the Wednesday practice. Inquiring minds want to know if he believes there’s a possibility he might stick around once Ristolainen and York recover.
Being paired with veteran Travis Sanheim has certainly helped his confidence. What impressed him the most?
“Just his calmness, how much he competes,” Bonk said. “Everything he does is pretty much making the right decision. He kind of led the way last night. It’s fun to watch him play.”
Going back to the Flyers’ decision not to keep him on the roster for opening night, Bonk admits there was some disappointment.
“I was definitely disappointed,” he said. “It’s kind of your goal coming into camp every year. But I talked to Danny (GM Daniel Briere) and there were still some things I needed to work on and figure out.
“I wasn’t disappointed to the point where it was, ‘Oh, I’m never going to play in the NHL.’ It was just a matter of time.”
In the Seattle game, Bonk made a high-skill play to set up Christian Dvorak’s goal, starting a two-goal comeback in the third period which eventually led to the shootout and the salvaging of one point.
“It (the rink-long rush) has to come from myself in practice and believe in myself in games,” Bonk said. “A year ago I probably wouldn’t have taken that all the way there (and passed off). . .but I believe I can make plays just as much as anyone else could.”
Give Bonk credit for not getting too down on himself after he wound up in Lehigh Valley at season’s start.
“Danny talked to me when I got sent down, he said keep pushing on, don’t get discouraged,” Bonk said.
For the moment, Bonk sounds like he’s determined to stick around this time, regardless of roster moves.
>Ristolainen skating
Ristolainen, still mending from a left-hand injury, skated in practice but will not play in Detroit.
“He’s not on the trip but he’s day-to-day,” Tocchet said. “He’s getting better.” York is also still sidelined by an upper-body injury and did not make the trip to Detroit.
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