Unexplained disappearances aside it has been a tough offseason so far for both myself and the Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltending situation. Contrary to popular belief both are very much alive and kicking despite the recent month of grueling speculation. So where do we stand? We have Biron holding out for four years at $5m per, we have an organization that switches its belief on Niittymaki’s stability after surgeries back and forth depending on their mood, and we have a rumor floating around that Emery’s deal with the Flyers is all but signed.
So where’s the truth in everything going on in Philadelphia? Well it’s very likely that Emery with the orange and black is a done deal despite mixed opinions about the situation. Some have him as cheap as $1.5m on a one year deal, and if you’re asking for bang for your buck between the pipes, which the Flyers clearly are, Emery appears to be a blessing in the disguise of an angry man with ego problems and a long list of transgressions against the hockey world.
Those looking at this and wondering how a goalie with a problematic past can be the right fit for an organization are failing to see what Paul Holmgren could possibly be viewing. Some call for an immediate upgrade to Biron in net but fail to realize goaltending is the most fickle posistion in professional sports. It takes a lot of luck and a lot of help to be good. The Detroit Red Wings are the perfect example of a team that can win with subpar goaltending while a dazzling array of cast members on the blueline take care of business for him. Then again the Red Wings have iffy goaltending which is not something the Flyers will have with either Biron or Emery. Inconsistent, mediocre? Yes, that’s probably what will be between the pipes for a while to come in Philadelphia, but being servicable is a different thing. Emery is young and more than capable of being a starting goaltender in the NHL. At $1.5m he would in essence allow for the Flyers to secure defenders to make him look better than he actually is; defenders like Jay Bouwmeester who Holmgren is obviously going to make an attempt at.
The Flyers need cap flexibility. Emery offers that flexibility with only a minor downgrade to Biron if at all. While there certainly is baggage the worst case scenario is that the Flyers are forced to play whatever backup they acquire with what will hopefully be a stellar defense at the blueline. That’s not all too much to worry about, especially if the Flyers go after Josh Harding of Minnesota as a young future between the pipes.
The orange and black have assets they can move along with plenty of young stars that either are emerging or will become NHL ready very soon. There is more to come in the days leading up to the draft about more interesting roster moves possible by mid-July so stay tuned.
