If The Flyers Moved on From Hart…
Carter Hart, currently, is injured and listed as day to day with a lower body injury. It is unclear how long he is out, though Sam Ersson was loaned back to the Phantoms. But considering he’s missed the end of the season the last two years, it’s worth wondering if he is going to be healthy in years to come.
If he can’t play, the Flyers have goalies in house named Sam Ersson and Felix Sandstrom. Ersson seems to be streaky, but effective for the most part. Sandstrom has struggled most of his time in Philly, but seems to have played better as of late.
Meanwhile, there are many publications and websites who think the Flyers should trade away Hart (Travis Konecny too). The idea being that they are the most valuable players on the team and could, theoretically, bring in the most haul for a quick rebuild. Hart is “being wasted” in Philly by playing phenomenal hockey on a losing team while entering his prime.
So, theoretically, let’s say the Flyers go the nuclear option and trade Hart away and bring in a bevy of draft picks, prospects, and/or players. Let’s say they stick with Ersson and/or Sandstrom. What other options are available via free agency? The answer….well…not very good.
You can check the full list right here at Cap Friendly. And we’ll only look at the unrestricted free agents. There are 86 total goalies between UFA and RFAs but just 49 UFAs. We will not examine all of them but highlight some of the better known ones here.
Perhaps if it was 2015 and not 2023
Jonathan Quick (37) leads this group. He still has some pep in his step as he has two shutouts this season before he was traded by the LA Kings. I wouldn’t mind seeing him as a Flyer, but the problem with this group is that most of these guys might have a year or two left in them, at best. This is the case that you find a prospect that you love, draft, and develop and hope it pans out…basically what the Flyers have been doing since Ron Hextall retired. If you want to go for that, Quick might be the best option.
Other options could include: James Reimer (35), Craig Anderson (42), Brian Elliott (38), and Jaroslav Halák (38).
Still Old, But May Have Some Gas in the Tank
These guys are also on the wrong side of 30, but are not as old as the ones above. Perhaps you might get three-five years out of them whereas the ones in the first category might get you a season or two. If there is a goalie prospect the Flyers like or if they want to develop Ersson more, these are your best options at being a stopgap goaltender.
Cam Talbot (35) has been in Philly before and has been, mostly, a career backstop. He’s having a mostly good year in Ottawa. And if you are looking to platoon two goalies together, he might not be a bad option.
Others include Semyon Varlamov (35), Antti Raanta (34), Frederik Andersen (33), Martin Jones (33), and Magnus Hellberg (32).
On an interesting note, the Carolina Hurricanes do not have a steady goaltender and haven’t had one since Cam Ward left. Two of their three rotating goalies will be free agents this year. My point is, if you have a solid defense and a team that can put up goals while shutting the other team down, you can throw just about anyone in net.
These Might Work
Magnus Hellberg (32) is on a bad team (Detroit) but has put up decent numbers (2.97 GAA and .898 save percentage). Again, if you are looking to platoon someone with one of our goalies as part of a rotation, he might work out. Likewise, Winnipeg’s David Rittich (31) has a 2.66 GAA and a save percentage of .903. Those aren’t bad numbers.
Joonas Korpisalo (29) might be the best of the bunch, but may cost too much. However, he could give you some good years. Likewise, Ilya Samsonov (26) is young and in his prime, but might be more than the Flyers could afford.
The Hell-No Club
Alex Lyon (30) is a free agent. We know what he brings to the table. We don’t need to go there. Same with Anthony Stolarz (29), although it is nice to see that, when healthy, he’s become a decent backup.
Final Thoughts
So, when looking through this, the best we can get is Samsonov and Korpisalo; two goalies who can command a lot on the open market for a team looking for a stable netminder. The rest are a collection of over the hill guys or career backups. Either way, they are filling in the role until the “next one” comes to Philly.
And that’s the thing, isn’t it? We could trade Hart and get a whole bunch assets, provided he is healthy of course. And since Chuck Fletcher is gone, I feel more hope an optimism that Danny Briere could bring in something good instead of some sixth round picks and a broken down zamboni.
Trading Hart could be good, but it could set you back. Ask the Montreal Canadiens if they wish they should’ve kept Patrick Roy. Or Blackhawks fans if they should’ve kept Ed Belfour. You can always see trades better years into the future looking back. At the time, you make them, you never know.
Trading Hart is a risky proposal. If you can guarantee a great haul and future, which nobody can, it is good. If not, better keep him in house. The options that are out there are not super promising. And those that are good might cost you too much, financially, to make it worth your while.