Who will back up Bryz?
Daily News Flyers blog
Who will back up Bryz?
PITTSBURGH -- With Sergei Bobrovsky off to Columbus, the Flyers now have a hole to fill in net.
Should they not acquire a goaltender this weekend, the Flyers’ brass will arrive back in Philadelphia on Saturday night with two rookie goaltenders in the system, and a backup needed for Ilya Bryzgalov.
Besides Bryzgalov, the Flyers have only Finnish giant Niko Hovinen and undrafted free agent Cal Heeter under contract for next season.
Hovinen, 24, is a massive 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds. On loan with the Pelicans of the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga), Hovinen posted a stellar 2.26 goals against-average and .920 save percentage in 41 appearances last season.
Heeter, 23, signed a two-year deal with the Flyers in March. He netted a .918 save percentage in 32 games with Ohio State last season.
Hovinen is the only one among the two who could possibly make the jump to the NHL. Even if he does, Hovinen wouldn’t likely get the work needed - in Bryzgalov’s shadow - to continue his development.
And even if the Flyers went ahead and drafted a goaltender in the first round on Friday night at the Consol Energy Center, such a prospect would be years away from even sniffing the NHL. Goalies take the longest to develop.
Therefore, Bryzgalov needs a backup, and he could certainly use one that brings a calming, veteran presence. Though Bobrovsky was a fellow Russian, Bryzgalov rarely communicated with his countryman and the two were not close friends. It would be natural to view Bobrovsky as competition, especially after a rookie season in 2010-11 in which he posted 28 wins.
Now, Bobrovsky will get a chance to fight for a No. 1 job in Columbus with Steve Mason.
“He’s had a great first year in the league,” Columbus GM Scott Howson said of Bobrovsky. “He’s won over 40 games in the league. I think he has the potential to be a very good NHL goalie. He's still a young goalie... I think he has a chance to be a No. 1. We’ll see how it plays out.”
But who will backup Bryzgalov?
There are a host of veteran free agent backups on the market, including former Flyer Marty Biron, the Devils’ Johan Hedberg and Florida’s Scott Clemmensen.
For my money, the Flyers’ most likely next backup is a guy under contract in Carolina for next season, in one Brian Boucher.
In fact, the Flyers wanted to re-sign Boucher last summer but could not find a viable trade partner for Bobrovsky. This summer, it took three picks, including a No. 45 overall second rounder in which the Flyers desperately needed.
Boucher ran out of time and signed a 2-year, $1.9 million deal with Carolina on July 1. Boucher, 35, played just 10 games for the Hurricanes this season after sitting out with a tough groin injury.
At this point, a source said no dialogue between the Flyers and Hurricanes has taken place. But Boucher makes sense for a variety of reasons:
One is Boucher’s personality. He knows his role as a backup, has played in the league for a long time, and has always been one of the most well-liked players in any dressing room he’s been included. Having been through it all with the Flyers, Boucher could help pass on some of his knowledge in how to deal with pressure situations to Bryzgalov. Though a year older since his second stint with the Flyers ended, Boucher is dependable and reliable in case of an injury.
Two is Boucher’s availability. Coming off an injury-filled campaign, Boucher could likely be had for a low-round draft pick, which the Flyers usually dangle like candy anyways. Carolina would likely be willing to part with Cam Ward’s backup because the position is usually insignificant and they have all the cap space in the world to sign a new one.
Three is Boucher’s cap hit. At $1.75 million for next season, Bobrovsky was the second-highest paid backup in the NHL. Boucher would be available for almost half the price at $950,000. His actual salary for next season would be $1 million. That newfound cap space, for instance, would take care of a new deal for a restricted free agent like Marc-Andre Bourdon.
Boucher has close ties to Paul Holmgren. Despite playing in Carolina last season, Boucher’s family is still in South Jersey.
The other backup options are less than stellar. Clemmensen, who pulled in $1.3 million for the last three seasons, is too expensive. A source close to Biron said he would like to remain with the Rangers, where he had a tremendous relationship with Henrik Lundqvist. And Hedberg played well in 27 games for New Jersey but will turn 40 during next season.
Yes, the Flyers could draft a goaltender in Pittsburgh. But that would be stockpiling for the future. They need to make some other sort of move to aide Bryzgalov.
Time will tell.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
I like Marty Biron if he is available.— Romus- Why would Biron come back? He has a good relationship with Lundqvist, is treated with respect and his family is settled in Westchester. He'll re-sign there.— NYluvsPhylers
- bring in anybody. with a trillion bucks tied up in bryz all you need is a cheap backup who can play decently on occasion and who doesn't cost anywhere near a million— kdub13
- boosh is terrible— Serge_Matthews
- So is now a good time to put money down on Columbus winning the Cup next year?— blackscreen
- We need a solid back, as we never know when Bryz will go mental again, or just flat out stick up the joint, AGAIN!— Tar Heel 1
- Boucher has had his chance, he did not take it. I'd settle with Hedberg. But whoever they bring as backup we are stuck with Bryzaster. That's the tough bit.— Ruffles
- @Serge, as terrible as you think Boucher is...perhaps look at his numbers compared to Bobrovsky. Any goalie is an improvement to Bobrovsky. I think Clemmensen would be a good fit for the Flyers, but Boucher is likely cheaper, and you know what you are getting.— Hexy4GM
Comment removed.- Actually, I think you're on to something.
Flyers know that Luongo will likely go somewhere. If he goes to Chicago, either Crawford or Emery gets let go. I wouldn't mind Emery being given another shot in a Flyers uniform. 34 games last year, 15-9-4, .900, 2.81 in Chicago. 7-2 for the Ducks the year before. Cap hit of 1.15 mil.
If Luongo goes to Maple Leafs it's Reimer or Gufstavson who is released (likely gus, UFA). He was 17-17-4 last year, .902 and 2.92.
Gus wouldn't be the steady presence that Boosh would be, but I think Emery could have a bounce-back year this year record wise, and probably better save % and GAA, whether with the Flyers, Blackhawks, or another team.— Squintdawg - Jacques Plante
- I would love to have Boucher back with the Flyers. I didn't think it was good at all that he left the team after all that he did. The 2010 Stanley Cup run wouldn't have happened if not for him. Also, the year 2000 he took the team very far on his fantastic playing. I say bring him back. He's a pretty solid goaltender. He can play brilliantly at the right times. My first choice is Tim Thomas, but I would love to see Boucher back with the team. I think it's a great idea to bring him back.— sanQ
- Put money in the defense....and NOT Bourdon. Get rid of Carle, go after a big free agent d-man and bring up Gustaffson who, if you remember, was was the only defenseman not giving the puck to a New Jersey Devils player every time he touched it.— girouxforpresident
- I can be the goalie. I tell everyone how good I was in Norway.
- Bring in Boucher would be a solid move to sure up the goalie issues with out FLYERS. Bryz would not have to worry that Boosh would be looking to take his job away to the point that BOB would and Boosh gives us a very good back up who has show he can play 25 games a sesason and if needed play more and play those games well. Boosh also has no problems mising in the lockeroom a she is a team and a class guy! He would be a good fit andat the right price!So send a low pick to Cains and bring boosh back! Then make the deal to get Bobby Ryan and then at 12:00 AM on July 1st send offer sheet to Shea Weber and if it gets matched at least Hommer can say he made the move and it didn't work out and then go out and get the best Defensemen we canget not named matt Carle!— srcdaddy1216
