Goalie Roulette? Who Is Between The Pipes To Start The Season For The Philadelphia Flyers?
Ever since Flyers GM Ron Hextall vacated his spot between the pipes, the Flyers have had average goaltending. Hextall left the team in 1999. Yes, you read that right. 1999.
Over the past 20 years, the Flyers have tried many different ways to find an elite goalie to man the net. You could say the Flyers have been playing roulette and hoping the ball lands on their number. Well, instead, they were just hoping it landed on black or red first.
With the likes of Brian Boucher, Roman Cechmanek, Antero Niittymaki, Robert Esche, and many more manning the pipes in the early 2000s, the Flyers never really had a mainstay after Ron Hextalls retirement. However, many thought that all changed after a 2010 Stanley Cup run where the Flyers used 3 different goalies in the playoffs.
In the following offseason, the Flyers made a very bold move and acquired and signed Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Now, this seemed like a great move from the start. Bryzgalov, who at the time, was one of the leagues best net-minders. However, being in Phoenix, it is not really the biggest hockey market. And, well, we all know what happened after that.
Bryzgalov got lost in his own head during his time in Philadelphia. He couldn’t handle the media, the constant pressure from the fans, and who could forget his five minutes of fame on “Road To The Winter Classic” talking about the universe. What started as a match made in heaven, ended with a nasty breakup.
Since Bryzgalov was bought out, the Flyers have actually been getting steady goal-tending. That steady goal-tending came from former Calder Memorial Trophy winner Steve Mason. Mason would be the Flyers mainstay over the next 5 years. However, like Bryzgalov, Mason was let go after a mediocre final season.
Which leads us to last offseason. With the likes of praised prospect Carter Hart and Felix Sandstrom, just a couple years away, the Flyers chose to go the stopgap route in hopes one of their praised goalie prospects would be ready.
Well, with both Flyers goalies going into their final years of their contracts, the emergence of Alex Lyon last season, where do all the goalies start this season?
First, lets look at who the Flyers have under contract.
At the moment, the Flyers have Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth under NHL contracts. The Flyers also have Anthony Stolarz, Alex Lyon, and Carter Hart under two-way contracts. So, if you do the math, the Flyers have 5 goalies for 4 spots between the Flyers and Phantoms. That doesn’t equal.
Now, there has been talks and rumors that the Flyers will be trading away a goalie or two before the end of camp. But, something may happen between now and then that may cause that to happen or not to happen.
However, at the moment, the Flyers should enter the season like this…
Flyers : Brian Elliott – Starter , Michal Neuvirth – Backup
Phantoms : Alex Lyon – Starter , Carter Hart – Backup
Floater : Anthony Stolarz
But, things could change. From what I have heard, the Flyers will have 4 goalies by the middle of training camp. Many reports are leaning towards Stolarz being traded. But, I truly believe it will be one of the NHL goalies being traded.
I feel that Stolarz and Hart is a better combination in Lehigh because it gives the opportunity for Hart to compete with someone who is in the same boat as him. If Hart is paired with Lyon, he would be used in a backup role because Lyon would be the call-up to the Flyers if Neuvirth or Elliott would get hurt. Lyon would need to be getting regular time to be ready for the call-up.
The best scenario I see for the Flyers is trading away Neuvirth and starting the season like this…
Flyers : Brian Elliott – Starter , Alex Lyon – Backup
Phantoms : Anthony Stolarz – 1A , Carter Hart – 1B
In this case, Stolarz and Hart split the time in Lehigh. Elliott starts as the starter but Lyon is there and ready to step in whenever he needs a break or a little push.
Just a few more weeks Philadelphia, Flyers Hockey is apon us.