FINALLY: The Flyers Have Nothing to Worry About Between the Pipes
That’s right, for the first time since goaltender Ron Hextall was backstopping an Eric Lindros led Philadelphia Flyers team, the team will go into the next season with absolutely no questions concerning its goalie situation.
You probably read that statement and said to yourself “Whatcha talkin’ about Willis”?! Sorry about that, but an age-old Flyers issue, deserves an age-old TV reference. OK, more realistically, you probably said to yourself “We have the same guys we had last year, so we had no questions about them last year either”.
Don’t kid yourselves, we had plenty of questions going into last season about the Flyers goaltending situation. Youngster Carter Hart was designated the team’s number 1 netminder after an impressive rookie season, but he only had 31 games of NHL experience. Was he too young? Would he suffer from the dreaded “Sophomore Jinx”?
In Brian Elliott’s case, he was coming off an injury-plagued season and had had surgery. Most importantly for both of them, would the Flyers young defense make things too difficult for either of them to be successful in the Flyers net.
Well, all those questions were asked and answered by both Hart and Elliott with huge success.
This brings us to this upcoming season…
Carter Hart
In a season in which he turned 22 years old, Hart started 43 games for the Flyers, posting a .914 SV% and a 2.42 GAA. Impressively, he made tons of highlight-reel saves. Those are really solid numbers for any goaltender, never mind one that is so young. But as impressive as that was, Hart saved (pun very much intended) his best for the playoffs. Hart started 14 playoff games and had a .926 SV% and a 2.23 GAA. On many nights he was the game’s top star and quite frankly deserved the other 2 stars as well, as he carried the team to wins they otherwise did not deserve.
As an example, in the series against the Montreal Canadiens, in the 4 games the Flyers won, Hart posted 2 shutouts and allowed A TOTAL OF 3 GOALS IN THOSE 4 GAMES. He was absolutely phenomenal. He became the second-youngest goalie in NHL history to record consecutive shutouts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
At one point in the playoffs, with a Flyers team who most nights did not show up, in front of him, Hart had a 1.24 GAA and a .958 SV%. Check out this quick highlight reel:
As great as Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price was in that series, Hart was that much better. Rumor has it, that the Montreal Canadiens were so impressed with the play of young Carter Hart, that they put his initials in their logo.
I’m kidding of course, but Carter Hart’s play last season including the playoffs put to rest any questions one might have about the Flyers’ goaltending. This kid is the real deal and the Flyers will have a real good one for the next 12-15 years. REJOICE!!
Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott coming off surgery, proved last season that he had recovered nicely and was a real good back up to Hart. He finished the season with a .899 SV% and a 2.87 GAA with 2 shutouts. When called upon, he was a true professional and played well. He played 3 games in the NHL Playoffs and finished with a .911 SV% and a 2.15 GAA. Those are VERY good numbers for a backup.
What is most impressive, is the way Elliott has taken the top of the role of mentor to young Carter Hart. The two have become close friends. The situation is so good, that the pending Unrestricted Free Agent Elliott, took a half-million dollars less than he made last season to resign with the Flyers and continue his work with the team and with Hart.
The new deal Elliot signed was a one-year deal, seems to be a bridge deal to get to the place where one of the many, young and promising goaltenders in the Flyers organization is ready for back up duties and the options are quite a few:
Samuel Ersson
Samuel Ersson continues to be super impressive for Brynas, with an impressive .940 SV% so far in the Swedish Elite league. The 6’2” 176 lbs goalie was a 218 5th round draft pick for the Flyers and is definitely a big part of the Philadelphia Flyers organization going forward.
Kirill Ustimenko
A 6’3” 187 lbs monster, is polishing up his North American game, but he’s got a ton of talent. In 2019, playing for the St. Petersburgh Dynamo, he posted a 1.78 GAA and a .927 SV%. He also led the league with 12 shutouts. He was a Flyers 3rd round pick in 2017.
Felix Sandstrom
I’m assuming he will be getting the majority of the starts down in Lehigh this coming season as they prep him to be Harts backup next season (2021-22). 6’2” 192 lbs goalkeeper was a 3rd round selection in the 2015 NHL draft. He’s really quick and he actually has cat-like reflexes. He is the odds-on favorite to back up Hart in 2021-22.
One thing is for sure Philadelphia Flyers fans, for the first time in decades, the goaltender position in Philly has never been as deep as it currently is.
Great things are coming for this team, soon… REAL SOON.
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