Flyers waive Hovinen, create flexibility
The Flyers have waived 6-foot-7 goaltender Niko Hovinen with the intent to terminate his contract, which would free up much-needed contract space.
Flyers waive Hovinen, create flexibility
The Flyers have placed goaltender Niko Hovinen, who has spent the season with the Trenton Titans, on unconditional waivers with the intent of mutual termination of his contract.
Hovinen, a 6-foot-7 monster in net, did not impress in Phantoms training camp in September and was assigned to the ECHL. In Trenton, Hovinen sported an unsightly 3.14 goals against-average and .889 save percentage. There were whispers that the organization did not appreciate his lacking work ethic.
The deal works for both sides. Hovinen, it seems, would much rather go back and play in his native Finland, and the Flyers have a glut of goaltenders (3) in Adirondack: Scott Munroe, Cal Heeter and Brian Boucher.
Why does this matter for the Flyers?
If (or once, since it seems likely at this point with injuries) rookie Scott Laughton plays his 6th game with the Flyers, his contract will no longer “slide” on the NHL register and this shortened campaign will count as one-year on his entry-level contract.
Why does that matter for the Flyers?
Once Laughton’s contract counts, they will be at the 50-contract limit, as imposed by the NHL.
Hence, the Flyers will have no maneuverability to sign a free agent or accept multiple players in a deal. With Scott Hartnell (left foot) potentially out for an extended period of time, and Danny Briere (wrist) and Zac Rinaldo (leg laceration) already on the shelf, the Flyers need bodies.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has significantly more wiggle room with only 49 contracts on the books, aside from the fact that this move also clears a logjam of netminders.
Hovinen's contract can be terminated as soon as he clears waivers on Friday at noon. Stay tuned.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Another move on the way. About time.— Claudio Vernight- What difference does it make if you have flexibility if all of your options stink? It's like closing time at Cookie's and the Tonner has his choice of a fat broad, a broad with bad breath and an effeminate looking dude. Way to go Homey.
- A glut of goaltenders. Not a glutton.— ghostofozark
- Would like to see Heeter get a majority of the games. He is young and can either prove he is an NHL goaltender, or slide off the map like Hovinen.— sobjoe24
- Franks girth on the other hand is gluttonness.— rockinrob
- Wonder if there's a chance the Flyers are dealing for Luongo (given Gillis's comments about the other team needing to move a player first...)? Or is that just wishful thinking?— Wrack
- They should have gotten rid of that stinkin crying goalie they have starting in net. Big 60 million dollar mistake....— mbutley
- I was wondering the same thing about Luongo. Maybe making a trade for him and then using one of their exemptions and waive Bryz? Just a thought. Obviously would mean losing some others on our roster, also. So we will see.— PZ2012
- can't use the amnesty clause on Bryz till the end of this season (part of the new CBA). Just incase anybody thought that might happen. We're stuck with him for atleast 45 more games.— Njtod10
- @Njtod....we may be stuck with him for another 45 games, but it doesn't mean we have to play him. He's gotta go in my book. He does nothing to steal a game ever for this team. You pay a goalie that much, he'd better steal quite a few. I've always liked watching Luongo down here in FL....hope he comes and returns to his great acrobatic form for us.— Mark1npt
- A glut of mediocre goalies is more like it.— BobbyD
- Hoping for a win tonight. In the first 2 games I thought that Bryz was solid in net. Against the Devils I thought he seemed disinterested. I'm not sure that Luongo is a big upgrade, especially considering what they might have to give up to get him. His cap hit is about $333,000 per year less than Bryz, but runs a couple of years longer.— Roll Tide!
- Saw Hovinen play in Trenton (when he actually got on the ice). He was slow, clumsy and played bad positionally. Met him after a game and he seemed like a jerk. Other players were open and nice, he was not. Hard to read anything into this other than addition by subtraction. Goodbye to bad rubish.— originalsrv
- Just another young goalie developed by the Flyers who was a failure. Strange how teams like the Rangers, Sabres, Kings and so on always seem to draft and develop good young goalies.— zeke128
