Denver Barkey signs entry-level contract with Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward prospect Denver Barkey to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The deal will kick in with the 2024-25 season.

Currently in his third season with the OHL’s London Knights, Barkey has 31 goals and 86 points in 55 games played – good for first on the team. The Flyers drafted Barkey 95th overall in 2023, but he has quickly become one of the team’s most impressive prospects.

Standing small at 5-foot-9, Barkey made an impression at Canada’s world junior camp but was ultimately cut from the final roster. But given his 100-point pace with the Knights this year, he’s quickly becoming one of the more intriguing prospects out of the OHL right now.

The 18-year-old center is coming off an impressive four-point affair against Oshawa this past Wednesday, registering a point on each of London’s goals. Internationally, Barkey had four points en route to winning gold with Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup lineup in 2022, his lone event with Hockey Canada.

Barkey’s late grandfather, Randy Legge, played 12 NHL games with the New York Rangers in 1972-73 and also won the 1970 Calder Cup with the Buffalo Bisons.

Other notable unsigned prospects in the Flyers’ system include Russian phenom Matvei Michkov. who has a deal in the KHL until 2026, and college forward Massimo Rizzo, who could elect to turn pro at the end of the 2023-24 college season.

The Flyers have $8.886 million in projected cap space for 2024-25, with Bobby Brink being the team’s most important RFA. Sean Walker, Marc Staal and Nick Seeler could all be traded before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 8, and goaltender Carter Hart is not expected to be tendered a qualifying offer at the end of the season.

The Flyers currently hold the third spot in the Metropolitan Division.