Flyers forward Denver Barkey is slated to sit out Wednesday as the Flyers take on the red-hot Buffalo Sabres in a clash between two playoff hopefuls.
During media availability on Wednesday afternoon, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed that young forward, Denver Barkey, will be sitting in the rafters as the puck in dropped in Buffalo. Barkey, who has played eleven games for the Flyers this season, is sitting out for the first time since his call-up in mid December. In that time, the former third-round pick has amassed one goal and two assists while playing on a line with Captain Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett.
Rick Tocchet’s comments on Barkey sitting
Tocchet announced during his pregame interview on Wednesday that Barkey was going to be spending the night watching the game from the press box.
#Flyers coach Rick Tocchet on Denver Barkey
— Jackie Spiegel (@jackiespiegel93) January 14, 2026
"He just played junior last year, so I think it's impt that he gets a little bit of a break. I told him work out this morning, & go watch the game up top. I think that's impt for young guys to go watch, it slows the game down up top." https://t.co/SYMiBIYWlX
Tocchet’s comments on Wednesday suggested that Barkey’s absence will be more about giving a young, developing player a chance to rest — especially with a back-to-back coming up — than about punishing him for poor play. He specifically mentions he wants Barkey to look at this as a “homework assignment” and to watch the game and come to him to talk about what he learned.
Barkey’s play since his call-up
Barkey has been one of the Flyers’ bright spots over the last month after being called up from AHL Lehigh Valley. The 20-year-old has impressed in his 200-foot-game and has even gotten an opportunity on the Flyers’ ever struggling power play. At the beginning of the season, Barkey was one of the Flyers’ prospects looking at the team, hoping to get a shot. Many thought he ranked below fellow prospect Alex Bump on the Flyers’ list of call-ups, but with Bump’s level of play oscillating to a greater degree, his process needing greater refining, while Barkey found a more notable degree of consistency in his play (particularly away from the puck), allowing him to pull ahead in that race for a recall.
One specific area where the tenacious forward has impressed has been along the boards. At only 5-foot-10, Barkey is skilled at controlling the puck and making strong plays along the boards that help keep possession for his team.
Denver Barkey is living breathing proof that there's no such thing as "too small for the NHL". Watch this board work.#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/gC2QccDL4J
— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) January 9, 2026
One of the big concerns with Barkey before his call-up was about how his game would translate to the NHL level. The former captain of the London Knights in the OHL was a motor-driven player, but at such a small frame, the concerns about his game not translating to the NHL level were not just felt by the Flyers. Barkey was passed over in the draft and fell to the third round, where the Flyers eventually took a swing. If Barkey were three or four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, he could have easily been a first-round pick, considering his impressive production in juniors, but size has always been a concern for Barkey.
Up until the Flyers played the Lightning, Barkey had never really looked outmatched. His motor and work ethic looked like that of an NHL regular. However, when the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning came to town, Barkey — and the rest of his Flyers teammates — looked outmatched against a far superior opponent. Lightning struck twice as the Flyers lost two in a row to their Eastern Conference foes, and Barkey did not impress nearly as much as he previously had.
What does this mean for Barkey’s future
With the Flyers in the thick of a playoff race, Barkey sitting out one game should not be a cause for concern. The young forward, as Tocchet mentioned, was playing junior hockey at this point last year. It’s a big jump coming over from that level of competition, and with the Flyers playing two very important games against the Sabres and Penguins, keeping Barkey rested for their second game of a back-to-back could help the Flyers in the long run during this important stretch of hockey.
The Flyers should fully expect Barkey to bounce back and use this time to only grow as a player and as a person. Tocchet mentioned Barkey’s hockey IQ in his pregame interview, and specifically mentioned how important it is for young players to watch games from up top and learn. In a game where precious points are on the table, watching the game might not be the worst thing for a 20-year-old kid who’s getting his first taste of an NHL playoff race.
