Flyers sign goalie Neuvirth as Mason's backup
The Flyers signed backup goalie Michal Neuvirth on Wednesday and, in effect, gained an insurance policy in case starter Steve Mason has another injury-plagued season.
The Flyers signed backup goalie Michal Neuvirth on Wednesday and gained an insurance policy in case starter Steve Mason has another injury-plagued season.
Both goalies were selected in the 2006 draft. Neuvirth was chosen by Washington in the second round with the 34th overall pick, 35 slots before Mason, who went in the third round (69th overall) to Columbus.
The Flyers signed Neuvirth to a two-year deal for $3.25 million, with an annual salary-cap hit of $1.625 million.
Neuvirth, 27, a Czech Republic native, was signed on the first day of free agency. He spent last season with Buffalo and the New York Islanders, and has a seven-year career record of 66-63-17 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.
In 10 career playoff games, he has a 4-5-1 record with a 2.30 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
Neuvirth has quicker reflexes than last season's backup, Ray Emery, and plays with poise, scouts say, but he has had problems with consistency.
Mason, 27, who played in just 51 games last season because of assorted injuries, is coming off a career year (2.25 GAA, .925 save percentage). He should be healthy for the start of the 2015-16 campaign.
Neuvirth's best season was in 2010-11 with the Capitals: a 27-12-4 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
The Flyers are also in the market for a winger. Speedy right winger Michael Frolik seemed like a great fit, but he signed a five-year deal with Calgary for a reported $12.5 million. The contract has an annual cap hit of $4.3 million.
The Flyers have about $4.5 million in salary-cap space. Teams can exceed the $71.4 million cap maximum by 10 percent in the summer.
As of Wednesday night, 6-foot, 204-pound left winger Matt Beleskey was still on the free-agent market and reportedly was seeking a long-term deal with an annual cap hit in the $4.5 million neighborhood.
Beleskey, 27, had a career-best 22 goals with Anaheim last season and he added eight goals in 16 Stanley Cup playoff games.
Lecavalier update
After the Flyers paid Vinny Lecavalier a $2 million bonus Wednesday, the 35-year-old forward has a total of $8.5 million left in the final three years of his contract. His annual cap hit is $4.5 million.
Heading into Wednesday night, five teams - New Jersey, Florida, Anaheim, Nashville, and Arizona - had not reached the $52.8 million salary-cap floor. One of them might have interest in Lecavalier.
Kent Hughes, Lecavalier's agent, said that the veteran "just wants to play" more minutes and that he would be happy to stay with the Flyers "if he gets that chance."
Hughes said if the Flyers had a chance to trade Lecavalier, "I'm sure they would."
Lecavalier, a center for almost his entire career, did not see eye-to-eye with former coach Craig Berube, who used him as a right wing on the fourth line last season.