Carter Hart would love to have some more time with Brian Elliott. So should the Flyers bring back the veteran goaltender?
When a star player advocates for a teammate to be re-signed, how much stock does a team put into that? There are certainly other areas that are looked at before that. Carter Hart spoke very candidly about his desire to team back up with the Flyers veteran backup.
Hart would love to have another season with Brian Elliott behind him. The two have formed a strong bond as Elliott has become a mentor for Hart. He has also filled in admirably in the net when needed.
Elliott has transitioned from a starter into a backup goaltender without so much as a single complaint. And at his age, it’s likely how he will finish out his career. Should some more of that time be spent with the Flyers?
Carter Hart hoping Flyers are able to re-sign goalie partner Brian Elliott. Elliott can become UFA on Oct. 9. "He's been a great mentor for me. ... I really hope he's back. I think he definitely wants to come back as well." pic.twitter.com/AzUk3PeTbL
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) September 16, 2020
Elliott filled in admirably during his 31 games this season. He posted a 16-7-4 record with a 2.87 GAA and a .899 SV%. The win total and goals-against average were a step up from what he did a season ago. But he was the top guy when the Flyers needed him to be.
He stepped up mid-season when Hart went down with an injury. He won three straight games leading up to the All-Star Break. One of which ended up being a 3-0 shutout against the Penguins. Elliott also grabbed a victory against the Capitals during the round-robin stage.
The biggest positive to Elliott’s season was that he remained healthy. That was after facing hip issues and having core muscle surgery previously. That durability in net was likely key to his bounce-back of sorts.
But he turned 35-years-old back in April. How much term are the Flyers willing to give a veteran goaltender? Elliott’s last contract was only for one year and was worth $2M. Is the team willing to get him that extra year if he wants more job security?
The options in-house aren’t quite there yet. Neither Kirill Ustimenko nor Felix Sandstrom is ready to take the next step to the NHL. Alex Lyon will be an unrestricted free agent and seems to have fallen out of favor with the team. He also has just 16 NHL games under his belt.
The free-agent market will likely cost more if the Flyers go that route. Braden Holtby tops the list of available goaltenders. However, he is likely looking to be a starter and will cost way too much. They could kick the tires on someone like Aaron Dell who made slightly less than Elliott.
Most goaltenders available this offseason are 30+ so the idea of term will be a question pretty much no matter the direction they go in. A one or two year deal would give Ustimenko and Sandstrom more time to develop. A surprise name could even emerge for the Flyers as well.
Elliott has given a lot to the Flyers over the last few years. And the relationship he has developed with Hart has clearly developed into a strong bond.
The biggest questions following a potential decision to bring back Elliott will be his age and previous lower-body injuries. The team is quite familiar with him by now, though. Bringing him back may be the better option rather than bringing a new face into the mix.
A one or possibly even two-year deal likely doesn’t break the banks. The Flyers do have some decisions to make with the cap staying flat, though. Elliott isn’t the only free agent they have to take a look at. However, their backup goaltender spot should be an area of focus.
The man they call Moose could be back in a Flyers uniform once more. Having a capable backup behind Hart should be a key for next season.