PHILADELPHIA, Pa – Another year, another list of goaltending issues in Philadelphia. The broken record that is the Philadelphia Flyers starting goaltender has been as constant as death and taxes over the past 40 some odd years. All three things are inevitable to happen, and no one dares to stop any of them. The Flyers have repeatedly tried to draft another up and coming goaltender, as well as through free agency and trade routes, to help bring the Stanley Cup back home to Philadelphia.
This year it was Michael Leighton and Ray Emery’s turn to change the orange and blacks fortunes. Leighton is proving to be a late bloomer but questions will remain until he has an NHL playoff series under his belt. Emery is facing a possible end to his career due to injuries.
Now the Flyers have to decide if they want to take a risk at one of their own goaltending prospects or do what they normally do, which is either trade for someone or sign another over price agent. Is there a player already in their system or is he out there somewhere? Things may or may not be so bad in their farm system.
Today we look at the Flyers top 5 goaltending prospects. (All stats are as of March 15, 2010) 1) Joacim Eriksson (Sweden)
You wouldn’t think that a seventh round draft pick could become the top goaltending prospect of any NHL team, but in the Flyers case that is exactly what the situation is for a franchise without a high-end goaltending prospect. Eriksson was drafted in 2008 (196 overall), along with our number two prospects, Jacob De Serres (third round, 84th overall), but we give Eriksson a slight edge based on his play continued solid play in Swedish. Both goaltenders are roughly the same size and skill level, so watching each player develop at the same time will be interesting to see.
Outlook: If the Flyers look beyond where he was drafted, the team could have one of the best Swedish goaltenders to come into their system since the late Pelle Lindbergh.
2) Jacob De Serres (WHL)
The Flyers had an opportunity to draft Jocab Markstrom but as you can tell passed on him. Instead the Flyers took the risk of drafting De Serres who is still in the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
De Serres will however be given every opportunity to make an impact since being taken higher in the draft than the rest of the Flyers goaltending prospects. That is the Flyers way, so even though we rank Eriksson higher, De Serres will be given more of a chance to succeed with the team. Outlook: De Serres and Eriksson could become a future tandem in net for the Flyers for years to come, but only if the Flyers don’t either make a trade for a goaltender or sign one as a free agent.
3) Jakub Kovar (CZE) Kovar, a former fourth round pick in 2006 (109th overall), is back in the Czech Republic and is having his best season yet. It is tough to get a handle on Kovar, but he could become a diamond in the rough. Kovar will remain a bit of a mystery until he hits the pro circuit here in the states.
Outlook: The Flyers will consider him a long term project at best but their patience might be paying off. Keep your eye on him.
4) Nicola Riopel (QMJHL) The former fifth round pick of the Flyers in 2009, Riopel is another in a long line of hopefuls in the Flyers system. Riopel is having another very good season with the Moncton Wildcats. After 25 games he has a 2.06 GAA and a .918 save percentage. He is not too small to play the position (6 foot, 183 pounds) and is improving despite playing 10 games in the AHL with the Phantoms.
Outlook: Riopel should be in either the ECHL or AHL next season. He has some work to do but if someone above him in the rankings falters he could sneak in for a shot with the big club.
5) Adam Morrison (WHL) Oddly enough Morrison is the highest drafted goaltender on our list (third round in 2009) but he is having a down year in the WHL with Saskatoon. Last year he wasn’t on out top 5 but with some others taken off the list Morrison cracks the top 5. Observations As you can see, the Flyers are still in dire need of a quality goaltending prospect to emerge. Without a first or second round pick in this year’s draft that’s not likely to change. Only time will tell if Flyers GM Paul Holmgren looks like a genius or a dope depending on the careers of Markstrom and De Serres. So far things don’t look good. Still, Eriksson could make everyone look good with some stellar play should the Flyers be able to convince him to play at least one season in the AHL next year. The other 4 also have a real shot at impressing. Overall it’s not a bad crop of prospects but until someone emerges and Flyers brass takes a leap of faith you won’t be seeing any of them in an orange and black uniform. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynew.com
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