PHILADELPHIA, Pa – Ever since Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall made a full-on commitment to building the Flyers through the NHL draft, rather than through trades and free agency as in years past, patience has become the operative word. Flyers fans do not need to be retold of the history of goaltenders that have come and gone since Hextall’s rookie season in 1987. Ever elusive has become finding a true number one goaltender. The orange and black just might have found their answer in net, even if he is at least one more season away from patrolling the crease in South Philly.
Center Riley Sheahan (#15) of the Pittsburgh Penguins shoots the puck at Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) of the Philadelphia Flyers
Today we look at our final goaltending prospects rankings in the Flyers system according to PHN for 2018.
Alex Lyon – The former Yale star goaltender will become a restricted free agent this summer but given his play in the AHL and his brief stint with the big club has earned him at least an offer from the Flyers. Despite prospect Carter Hart looking over his shoulder and Brian Elliot and Michal Neuvirth ahead of him on the depth chart, Hextall is a big fan of his and will no doubt be given an opportunity to be given a shot at the starters job once both Elliot and Neuvirth come off the books after next season.
Lyon was not drafted by the Flyers but he has the look of someone who could become a steal for the team even if all he does is become a solid backup goaltender for whoever becomes the starter down the road. Do not be surprised if at some point he ends up on a franchise like Vegas or a new expansion franchise (Seattle?).
Carter Hart – Last year this time we said that Hart would either be at the top of our list. Hart has done nothing but bring his status to team savior to a completely new level by winning yet another WHL Goaltender-of-the-Year award and helping propel Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships. Because of his age, he is not eligible to be in the AHL but next season Hart will begin his pro career with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. .
Goalie Alex Lyon (#49) of the Philadelphia Flyers blocks a shot with his mask.
Felix Sandstrom – A third round pick in 2015, the Flyers are very high on him despite having a down year from 2017. If he stays on his current trajectory, he could challenge Hart and Lyon for a roster spot with the Flyers one day. Until then he is signed to stay in Sweden another year but he could still come overseas at some point this year.
Anthony Stolarz – Injuries killed his season year. The former second round pick in 2012 was not helped because all signs look like the Flyers might be moving on from Stolarz at some point given the prospects in the system who are all but ready to pass him on the depth chart. The Flyers were hoping when they drafted him that he could become a potential number one goaltender, but things have changed. The usual gripe about his game is his consistency and Lyon has outplayed him.
Honorable Mentions: Matej Tomek and Kirill Ustimenko – Tomek as drafted in the same round as Sandstrom (20 picks later at #90) but the Flyers doubled down and selected Tomek as well. The Slovakian native, like just about every other Flyers prospect it seems, played in the 2017 World Juniors. Tomek played for North Dakota in 2017 but played in the USHL last season.
Goalie Michal Neuvirth (#30) of the Philadelphia Flyers enters the game with 11:56 left in the second period.
Not much is known about Ustimenko other than what they saw briefly at the 2017 World Juniors. He was a third round pick, 80th overall, in 2017 and you can bet the Flyers will keep an eye on his progress.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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