First-round draft pick Oliver Bonk signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
General manager Daniel Briere made the announcement Monday morning.
Bonk, a right-shot defenseman, was the 22nd player selected in the 2023 draft. He is 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. He played this past season for the London Knights, of the Ontario Hockey League. Bonk played 67 games and scored 10 goals and 30 assists for London. He played 10 games in 2021-22 with London.
Bonk, 18, ranked fifth in assists and eighth in points for London last season. He set career highs in goals, assists, points, power-play goals and shorthanded goals.
What They’re Saying
“The scouts do their job and they obviously saw something that they liked,” Flyers assistant director of player development Nick Schultz said about Bonk at Development Camp.
“We haven’t gotten into any real game situations but you can see to me he looks like he’s a total package watching him in these drills. He enjoys defending. He’s not just one-sided.
“He’s a big, strong kid obviously. Everyone loves that he’s a right shot. He’s very competitive and he loves defending … When he has the puck, he looks like he’s got that skill level and that ability to make plays.
“It’s exciting to have someone in the pipeline that we can work with and kinda continue to guide and help him into the pro level.”
Bonk was featured in a NHL Productions behind-the-scenes TV show about the NHL Draft.
“It feels great [to be drafted by the Flyers],” Bonk said at the draft. “It’s like a dream come true. I don’t remember walking down the stairs anymore. Definitely a dream come true.”
About his strengths, Bonk said: “I think my hockey IQ. I know it’s maybe not a skill. My smarts help me on both sides of the ice.
“We talked a lot to Danny Briere and their staff. We had a good couple of talks with them at the combine.”
His father, Radek, played 969 NHL games over 14 seasons.
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