PHILADELPHIA, Pa – In Philadelphia, the scrutiny of the Flyers starting goaltender has been as constant as death and taxes over the past 40 years. All three things are inevitable to happen, and no one dares to stop any of them.
In Flyers history, only three goaltenders have made their mark on the franchise, two of them were drafted by the team: Bernie Parent, Pelle Lindbergh (1979), and Ron Hextall (1982). Pete Peters (1977) took the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals (as well as Lindbergh and Hextall), but only Parent won a Stanley Cup with the team, and he did it in back to back years (’74 and ’75). 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. While Martin Biron appears to be the man in the net for through the end of this season, the Flyers must look past this season and develop a high end goaltending prospect. Is that player already in their system or is he still out there somewhere? So far it doesn’t look good for the orange and black. Today we look at the Flyers top 5 goaltending prospects. All stats are as of January 25, 2009) 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. Some scouts and hockey “experts” will look at someone that is drafted higher than another but just because someone was drafted later in the same draft doesn’t necessarily mean that they are of lesser quality. Eriksson was drafted last season 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 this year in the Swedish under-20 Super Elite league where he has a 2.10 goals against average, and a .925 save percentage in 19 games. Eriksson also played for Team Sweden’s under-20 and in 3 games 2.94 goals against average, and a .918 save percentage. 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) With the Flyers passing on Markstrom in the draft, all eyes will be focused on De Serres who is in his fourth year in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds. This season is easily not his best season and is splitting time with rookie Calvin Pickard who so far this season is outplaying De Serres. That is not a good sign for the Flyers. 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 lease 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. De Serres must prove that this season is a fluke and not a start of a trend. 3) Jeremy Duchesne (ECHL) Two seasons ago, Duchesne was the only Flyers goaltender in there entire organization who had a save percentage over 90 percent. In fact, that year Duchesne’s save percentage was not over 90 during the regular season while playing in the QMJHL, but he had a very good run in the playoffs while playing for Val-d’Or Foreurs which pushed it above 90 percent. This season Duchesne is in ECHL playing for the Mississippi Sea Wolves, the Flyers ECHL affiliate. It might be because the team is having a poor season, but so far Duchesne is having a down season with a save percentage below 90 percent and a goals against average of 4.77. Like De Serres, Duchesne is being outplayed but a teammate. That is not a good sign for Duchesne who was drafted in the fourth round in 2005 (119th overall. That said should the Flyers move him up to the AHL next year it might be his last chance to make an impression on Flyers brass. Outlook – It was thought that Duchesne could have started in the AHL but, since the Flyers brought back Scott Munroe that changed their plans for him. The Flyers are not very patient and will be drafting more goaltenders in June. While he doesn’t turn 23 until October, this could be his last season as a Flyer prospect unless he turns his game around quickly. 4) Jakub Kovar (CZE) Kovar, a former fourth round pick in 2006 (109th overall), is back in the Czech Republic playing for Ceske Rudejovic HC, and has only played in 3 games. Last season Kovar played in the OHL and split time for the Windsor Spitfires and Oshawa Generals. His career stats are getting worse, not better. It is tough to get a handle on Kovar, having played in only 3 games this season, and until he not only plays more, and play better, Kovar will remain a bit of a mystery. Outlook: Until he players more the Flyers will consider him a long term project at best. 5) Brad Phillips (NCAA) If it were not for Notre Dame’s starting goaltender Jordan Pearce, Brad Phillips might be getting the call for the Fighting Irish. Phillips has not played in a game for the Irish all season long. It might take a transfer for Phillips to see the light of day as a starter, but since Pearce is a senior, and Phillips is a Junior, Phillips will fight for the starters job next season. Still, despite being a seventh round pick in the 2007 draft, Phillips is going to get a long look by Flyers’ brass. Phillips got their attention as part of USA hockey’s under-18 program and played for the NAHL’s Brampton Capitals. In 2007 Phillips had a stellar goals-against-average of 2.18 with a save percentage of .917. In 2008 Phillips had a record of 4-1-0 (1.52, .923). Outlook – Phillips could turn out to be the best of the five netminders on our list, but like Kovar, having played so little over the past two seasons could prompt the Flyers to move on. Observations As you can see, the Flyers are in dire need of a quality goaltending prospect. Only time will tell if Holmgren will look like a genius or a dope depending on the careers of Markstrom and De Serres. So far things don’t look good. Well, there you have it fans, the team’s top five goaltending prospects. Do you agree or disagree with the lists? Send me an email and let me know, I’d love to hear from you, not only about the prospects, but about the Flyers in general. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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