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The Flyers have recalled defensemen Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
With the Phantoms season over, both Bonk and Jiricek have been recalled as Black Aces, in case of an injury.
Why Now?
- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ season ended on Sunday after they failed to qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs. With no more AHL games, prospects like Bonk and Jiricek become available to join the NHL club as reinforcements.
- Both players recently had short stints with the Flyers:
- Oliver Bonk (Flyers’ 2023 first-round pick, 22nd overall) made his NHL debut in the regular-season finale against the Montreal Canadiens, recording 1 goal and 1 assist. He had six goals and 19 points in 46 games with the Phantoms this season.
- David Jiricek (acquired by the Flyers from the Minnesota Wild on March 6, 2026, in exchange for Bobby Brink) also debuted against the Montreal Canadiens (with 2 PIM and even +/-). He was strong in the AHL post-trade, posting 2 goals and 13 points in 14 games with the Phantoms.
Earlier in April, the Flyers recalled a larger group (including Bonk, Jiricek in separate moves, plus others like Hunter McDonald, Jacob Gaucher, Anthony Richard, and Aleksei Kolosov) for the season finale to rest key veterans after clinching a playoff spot. Most were then sent back down, but now they’re being brought up again with the Phantoms’ season over.
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