VOORHEES, N.J. – When it came to all the kids on the block, Hunter McDonald used to stick out like the jolly green guy on the vegetable box.
In other words, Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald towered over most of the other young backliners in the organization with his 6-foot-4 frame.
Those days, however, are coming to an end. The Flyers just took a few rather tall, large defensemen in the recent NHL Draft, so the Lehigh Valley Phantoms suddenly look a bit more physically formidable.
Mention of this brought a smile to the face of the 22-year-old McDonald during Thursday’s development camp press availability at the Flyers Training Center.
“We laugh about that a little bit,” he said. “A lot of big boys out there. We’re playing hard against each other and it makes it good, competitive. We’re all enjoying ourselves.”
The big defense guys’ list includes McDonald, Carter Amico (6-foot-5, 225 pounds), Luke Vlooswyk (6-foot-5, 200 pounds), Alex Carbonneau (6-foot-4, 205 pounds), Emile Chouinard (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) and Spencer Gill (6-foot-4, 194 pounds).
Last season with the (AHL) Phantoms, McDonald, a Fairport, N.Y. native, played in 71 games and registered four goals/18 points. His most impressive stat: A plus-12.Whether that performance moves him any closer to a callup by the Flyers remains to be seen. But it can’t hurt.
There are still some things, though, to work on.
“Just going back for pucks,” he said. “It’s really important, being the first touch. Get the puck so we can play in the other end. Knowing I can join the play, be a good skater to join the play on the offense and also get back on defense.”
McDonald said there are still some improvements to be made. He called the American League “a great learning process.”
“It’s only going to help me and make my career that much longer,” he said. “Just slowly developing. And when I’m ready to come up, I’m ready.”
This is McDonald’s fourth development camp yet even though he hasn’t reached the NHL yet, he’s viewed as a veteran and a leader in some quarters at this July activity.
“I take pride in that role here,” he said. “All the new guys are great. Like last year, we’re still doing a lot of fun activities. Just getting to know guys more personally. . .just taking more of a leadership role hopefully make them comfortable on the ice.”
Bjarnason set for bigger things
Goaltending is still a bit of a question mark for the Flyers. They did add free agent Daniel Vladar the other day and still have starter Sam Ersson along with backups Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov.
However, if things are still stuck on the treadmill a year or two from now, it might open the door for a youngster such as Carson Bjarnason.
The 20-year-old Manitoba native, selected in the second round (51st overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, graduated junior hockey (WHL Brandon Wheat Kings) at the end of last season and joined the Phantoms, although he didn’t get into any games. Now he will be playing full-time in Allentown.
Due to injury, last year was almost a lost cause for Bjarnason, who was sidelined by knee injury (meniscus) problems. He only got into three games.
“Obviously it (Lehigh Valley) is a big jump,” he said. “I’m super excited but there’s a lot of work that goes into it. It’s a big step for me. Something I’m definitely looking forward to.”
Before last season, Bjarnason’s goals-against average improved each of the four years he was at Brandon and the 2.93 GAA in 2023-24 shows he’s on the right track.
“Proud to be a Flyer,” he said, “and happy they kind of want me around here.”
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Source: Berkshire mont
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