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PLYMOUTH, Mich. — The Philadelphia Flyers have embraced a rebuilding effort they hope will turn them into Stanley Cup contenders in the near future.

The 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase offered a preliminary glimpse at potential stars of the upcoming revival.

The Flyers led the NHL with eight prospects from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland participating in the event. This event, which lasted until Saturday, was the first stage for teams to choose their rosters for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. The championship is set to take place in Ottawa from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.

“Clearly, it’s thrilling,” said Keith Jones, Flyers President of Hockey Operations. “We’re overjoyed that our team is getting the chance to participate in international competitions. I believe such experiences are invaluable.”

Among the players were five for Canada: goalie Carson Bjarnason, defensemen Oliver Bonk and Carter Sotheran, and forwards Denver Barkey and Jett Luchanko.

Bonk, originally from Ottawa, was the sole player among the four, selected in the first round (No. 22) of the 2023 NHL Draft, who represented Canada in the 2024 WJC. His status as a returning player excluded him from traveling to Plymouth, having already participated in exhibition games in Windsor, Ontario, the previous week. There is a possibility for the 19-year-old to compete in the NHL this season, however, it is predicted he will rejoin London’s team in the Ontario Hockey League and secure a position in one of Canada’s top two defensive pairs at the WJC.

Flyers director of player development, Riley Armstrong, commented on the situation, “Playing in his hometown may seem like a lot of pressure to many, especially as he’s playing for Canada in Ottawa. However, he truly enjoys playing in his home city. Having his friends and family there to watch is going to be a fantastic experience, I’m certain of that.”

However, he is likely to approach it as though it’s just another hockey game, which is his usual strategy. I believe this demonstrates a highly mature mentality for such a young player. This is the reason why I believe he is on the brink of becoming an NHL player.

Barkey, who was selected in the third round (No. 95) of the 2023 draft, could also have a significant role in Canada. Last season, the 19-year-old tied for the fourth position in the OHL, having scored 102 points (35 goals, 67 assists) in 64 games with London.

He has been playing center during his tenure with Canada, but is anticipated to play on the wing once he joins the NHL.

“Since playing center at 16 in London, I’ve not had the chance to play that position again, so naturally, I’ve had to adjust,” said Barkey. “However, if my aim is to be a part of this team, I need to prove my versatility and ability to fit into any part of the lineup.”

The Flyers see in Barkey (5-foot-9, 155 pounds) as another version of forward Travis Konecny (5-10, 192), who led them with 68 points (33 goals, 35 assists) in 76 games last season and signed an eight-year, $70 million contract ($8.75 million average annual value) on July 25.

Barkey has acknowledged the need to increase his strength in order to make it to the NHL. He stated that he has already gained 10 pounds since the beginning of the previous season.

Armstrong said, “Once Barkey matures a bit more and develops his strength, I believe we’ll see him at a different level. This might take two or three years, but once he achieves it, I’m confident he’ll become a really good player.”

I’m entirely confident that he’s going to be an NHL player. His understanding of the game is comparable to another ‘TK’.

The Flyers believed Barkey’s performance in the first half of the previous season was sufficient to secure a place in the roster for the 2024 WJC. They perceive his participation in the 2025 tournament as a recognition of the significant effort he has already invested.

It would be a great achievement for the 19-year-old to see Bjarnason join Barkey and Bonk at the WJC. He had started the previous season as a potential player for Canada at the WJC, but due to early struggles, he wasn’t chosen. However, his performance improved as the season progressed, ending with a 24-17-4 record, a 3.01 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage, and two shutouts in 46 games for Brandon of the Western Hockey League.

Armstrong acknowledged that the start of the year didn’t go as planned for him. He believes that the pressure he put on himself to make the World Junior team may have contributed. Armstrong feels that it’s great for him to get another opportunity to prove himself this year.

In Canada’s 8-6 victory over Finland at the USA Hockey Arena on Friday, Bjarnason proved his worth by making eight saves out of nine shots in 31:02 of ice time. Going into the new season, he remains a strong contender for the position of Canada’s No. 1 goalie.

“When the 2024 WJC rosters were released and I saw my name on them, I accepted the situation and continued with my game,” said Bjarnason. “I hope this year will be different. For now, I’m just focusing on the current season and will see how things evolve.”

Also taking part for the Flyers were Finland forward Heikki Ruohonen, Sweden forward Jack Berglund and United States forward Noah Powell.

Powell may emerge as the most surprising talent of the group. Despite initially being overlooked in the 2023 draft, the 19-year-old made his mark by leading the United States Hockey League with 43 goals scored in 61 games for Dubuque in the last season. His performance earned him a selection in the fifth round (No. 148) of the 2024 draft.

“He’s undoubtedly a powerhouse,” said Armstrong. “I believe he’s going to astonish most people when this event begins.”

During a game on Wednesday where Finland emerged victorious with a 5-3 score, Powell (6-1, 201) executed a precise pass that led to a goal by his teammate, Christopher Pelosi (Boston Bruins). Powell was also a formidable figure on the ice, making his presence felt at both ends.

“His speed, size, and physicality are notable,” said U.S. coach David Carle. “But what has really stood out to me is his poise with the puck. That was an aspect of his game I wasn’t previously aware of. He has a knack for separating, taking the puck, and then strategically identifying the next move in a strong and intelligent way.”

While fielding eight players in a summer hockey tournament doesn’t assure future triumph, it does instill considerable optimism for a franchise that has failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for four consecutive seasons.

“Barkey expressed his excitement about the young talent and skilled hockey players rising through the ranks. He emphasized the deservingness of each player, and the thrill of anticipating the future prospects. He concluded with expressing his optimism for what the future holds,” he said.