Flyers: Does the team have stability in the goaltender position?
By Matthew C
After a few seasons of having an unstable goaltender situation, the Flyers seem to finally have a stable goaltender position.
With General Manager Chuck Fletcher seemingly going with the Brian Elliott–Carter Hart goalie lineup, the Flyers finally have some sense of stability in the goalie position. Earlier this month, the team announced that they signed Elliott to a one-year extension. Good news for the team. Having a consistent goalie lineup is critical for a team’s success in the NHL.
This is something that the Flyers have struggled with in the past. It would have been 18 years since they had stuck with the same goalies on their roster for three consecutive seasons. That streak is broken with Elliott and Hart being the two goalies on the team’s NHL roster. The last time the Flyers had the same goalie pair for three straight seasons was from 1995 to 1998.
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Brian Elliott being re-signed to a one year deal could be seen as very beneficial for the Flyers moving into next season, looking to return to the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Last season, Elliott made 716 saves in 31 games played. He finished the season, including the playoffs, with a 16-7-4 record. The 2021 NHL season will mark Elliott’s fourth season with Philadelphia and fourteenth season in the NHL.
Carter Hart, the 22-year-old Canada native, provides a promising future for the team’s goaltending. Making his NHL debut in the 2018-19 season where he appeared in thirty games, Hart has continued to prove his worth in the league and with the team. He finished last season with a 24-13-3 record and a .914% save percentage.
The goaltending position is finally stable and settled. Well, for now at least. We’ll have to see what the future holds but it’s possible we can see Elliott out of Philly after next season.