Alex Bump and Devin Kaplan sign with the Flyers in unusual fashion

Following the conclusion of the NCAA championship, in which Bump’s Western Michigan took home the prize, it didn’t take long for the Flyers to sign both of their prospects who were playing in the big game.

Alex Bump signed an ATO, and he will be playing with the Phantoms shortly. At face value, it’s somewhat unexpected. The Flyers’ brass fondness for Alex Bump is the stuff of legend, so it would be easy to think they want him to suit up in the Orange & Black ASAP.

On the contrary, though. For example, if you think the player is likely to be signing another 2-way deal after their first contract is up, then what’s the concern with burning the first one? The second one will be little different.

I suspect that’s the thinking which prompted the Flyers to sign Devin Kaplan to an ELC, and have him start with the team immediately. He’ll get a taste of the NHL, but it’s beyond any legitimate debate that his medium-term home is in the AHL.

Alex Bump and Devin Kaplan sign with the Flyers

Flyers:

Boston University’s Devin Kaplan is joining the team and burning a year

National Champion Alex Bump looking like it will be an ATO with AHL Lehigh Valley, signs ELC starting next season

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 15, 2025

There’s a journey ahead of Kaplan, whose power game and soft hands were tempting in his draft year of 2022 but hasn’t stopped him from stagnating in recent seasons with Boston University. If there’s an NHL player there, it will be one unearthed by a long process in the Flyers’ development system.

The opposite is true of Bump. Bump is essentially ticketed for the NHL in the near-term future, and the Flyers likely already have his name penciled in for next year’s roster. That’s exactly why they want every available year of Bump’s ELC.

Whatever the money looks like, and I’m not saying he’s going to prove to be Kyle Connor or anything, the Flyers suspect his next contract will be a legitimate NHL deal.

So: Kaplan is going straight to the Flyers. Bump will be on a ATO and go play with the Phantoms. https://t.co/YAgGSy4Ckn

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) April 15, 2025

It’s been a common take online, “They did it for Kaplan but not Cutter!”

It’s pretty funny, but it’s hiding a deeper truth. Of course, they did it for Kaplan. They didn’t do it for William, and they aren’t doing it for Bump.

There’s very little financial incentive to burn a year of an ELC on this short of a timeframe unless you don’t think the player’s next contract will be an NHL contract.

The most likely scenario is that Kaplan’s won’t be, and that Alex Bump’s will be.

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