That is not an answer fans want to hear, but we all know it to be true. The Flyers have not had an elite goaltender this century. The best goalie they had was the one who started the century with them.
Roman Cechmanek
In three seasons with the Flyers, Cechmanek had 92 wins, a .923 save percentage, 1.96 goals against average, 20 shutouts, and a 2002-03 William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals against in the league.
The Flyers rewarded his performance with a trade to the Los Angeles Kings for a second-round draft pick.
He was an enigmatic figure who had all the pieces but let them fall apart. Even though he put up gaudy numbers, he could be inconsistent. The magic would come and go, seemingly without warning.
The 2004-05 lockout season prompted many players to head abroad to keep earning a paycheck, and Cechmanek was no different. He returned home to Czech Republic and signed a contract with Vsetin in the Czech 1 Liga and decided not to return to North America.
Steve Mason and Martin Biron
These two had similar careers and stints with the Flyers. They were both good goalies who never really got the recognition they deserved. They had their quirks, strengths, and weaknesses, and put up similar numbers. Biron had better playoff numbers and steely blue eyes. So, the advantage goes to him, I guess.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Any Flyers’ fans who tell you it has not pained them to see Bobrovsky win a Stanley Cup and two Vezina Trophies (2012-13, 2016-17) for the league’s best goalie are lying to you. Do not trust them.
The highlight of Paul Holmgren’s tenure as general manager in Philadelphia was plucking him out of obscurity from a floundering KHL Metallurg team. One of the many lowlights was when he shipped him off to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a couple of draft picks. Bobrovsky won his first Vezina that season in Columbus.
Fun fact: The Flyers used one of those draft picks they got for Bobrovsky to draft goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who went on to win the Cup with Bobrovsky last season in Florida.
Does he belong in that group of six finalists for the NHL’s Quarter-Century team? Well, do we really need to pour more salt into that wound?
Antero Niittymaki
Wait, what? Antero Niittymaki? Are you serious? He actually put up some decent numbers in Philly, but no. It’s just still funny that he gave up a center-ice goal to Max Talbot because he was watching a replay on the jumbotron.
Talking about Flyers goaltending can be a triggering and traumatic experience. So, let’s end it with a little levity.