Flyer’s offseason facelift

PHILADELPHIA – This offseason, the Flyers went through arguably one of the biggest shake-ups of any team in the NHL. There’s no question, moving their captain, Mike Richards, and leading goal-scorer, Jeff Carter, was a surprise, so where does it leave the team now.
This is a three-part series taking a look at the moves made by Flyers GM, Paul Holmgren, since being miserably bounced from last season’s playoffs in the second round. Going in order, the series will address the changes in goaltending, defense, and up front, as well as taking a look at what it’ll mean going into the 2011-2012 NHL season.
To start things off, let’s talk about goaltending.
The goalie carousel of the 2011 playoffs was the biggest embarrassment to the team, and as clearly stated by Flyers President, Ed Snider, to the press, it was addressed with vigor. Holmgren shook the team’s wallet considerably to offer a sizable 9-year $51 million dollar deal to the former Phoenix Coyote, Ilya Bryzgalov. That’s a deal with a cap hit of $5.6 million per year, and clearly the largest amount ever offered to a Flyer goaltender.
In 68 games for the Coyotes last season, the 31-year-old Russian netminder, finished with a 36-20-10 record, a 2.48 GAA, a 0.921 save percentage, and seven shutouts. He’s all but assured the number one job in between the Philadelphia pipes, and will likely play a minimum of 50 games. In his three full seasons with the Coyotes, he played no less than 65 games per season.
Second on the depth chart in goal for the Flyers, is last season’s Russian phenom, Sergei Bobrovsky. At 22, the young Russian began last season on the same pace as former Flyers goalie Ron Hextall did in his rookie season. However, as the 82-game NHL season and over-use wore on him, he began to show chinks in his armor. Early in the season, fans were amazed by his reflexes, but as the season continued, teams began finding his weaknesses. That on top of exhaustion from months of hockey brought his play down.
Going into this season, his $1.75 million contract makes him the second highest paid backup goaltender in the league, which has brought up rumors that he may be traded to free up some cap-space. The team is in no cap danger, and as training camp approaches, the likelihood of him being traded diminishes.
With a year under his belt, some maturity, a fellow countryman to mentor him, and a new wife, he may look like the “Bob” Flyers fans saw earlier last season rather than later.
The depth chart in goal for the Flyers is deep, and Bobrovsky is followed by 2009-2010 season waiver wire pickup, Michael Leighton. Leighton was nabbed as a precaution by the Flyers that season, and wound up backstopping the team to the Stanley Cup finals. Back surgery before the start of last season cost him the starting job, and he spent the season in the AHL.
Swedish goaltender, Johan Bachlund, is entering his final contract year with the Flyers. He failed to earn a spot with the big club last season due to hip issues, and will need to prove himself if he wants to remain with the organization.
In the off-season, the Flyers also signed 23-year-old, Finnish goaltender, Niko Hovinen, a former draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, who never received a contract from them, but recently had a break-out season in the Finnish Elite League. Rumors have it, he’ll complete his first season under his new contract continuing with his current team in Finland.
The surprise signing was, perennial AHL goalkeeper, Jason Bacashihua. In the 31-year-old’s 10 professional seasons, he’s yet to make much of a splash in the NHL, and has been bounced around to five different organizations.
How It All Shakes Out
The starter for next season is likely written in ink, as Bryzgalov’s salary and reputation all but assure him no less than 50 starts next season. The question comes in, who will fall in behind him and where.
The top candidate is fellow Russian, Bobrovsky, with Hovinen remaining in Finland for another year. That leaves three players, Leighton, Bachlund, and Bacashihua fighting for two spots on the Phantoms. Leighton could be traded away or bought out or Bacashihua could be sent down the ECHL, but money is on the underachieving Bachlund being loaned to Europe for his final contract season, leaving Leighton and Bacashihua as the Phantoms goaltending tandem.
That all changes if Bobrovsky were traded away, leaving the backup job for the Flyers between Leighton and Bachlund. Odds are, in that case, Leighton would win out, as he has more experience, leaving the two Bs, Backlund and Bacashihua, as the Phantom’s tandem.
This all counts on some moves by Holmgren and the organization, but don’t count Bobrovsky out yet. He was once called the Flyers goaltender of the future, and his work ethic can more than earn him a spot. They showed a lot of faith starting him in last season’s opener, so look for him to be on the bench for the Flyers in this season’s opener.
The excitement however, will be surrounding Bryzgalov, who will look to win 40-games this season, and backstop the Flyers to another Stanley Cup final appearance.
Next week, we’ll take a look at defense…
Contact Chuck.Tay@prohockeynews.com Photography Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com