Flyers sign Michal Neuvirth as backup goalie

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, 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.

General manager Ron Hextall called Neuvirth a proven goalie, "and one of the attractive things for us with a backup is, God forbid, something happens to Mase, he can carry the load. He's done that in the past."

Hextall said he envisioned Neuvirth was "probably going to play more than the typical backup."

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 season.

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, but Hextall said he "didn't have the [cap] flexibility to go after a big guy."

The team also still needs to re-sign defenseman Michael Del Zotto, a restricted free agent.

The Flyers have about $4.5 million in salary-cap space. Teams can exceed the $71.4 million cap by 10 percent in the summer.

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."

Lecavalier, a center for almost his entire career, did not see eye-to-eye with ex-coach Craig Berube, who used him as a right wing on the fourth line last season.

Three signed

The Flyers signed three free agents seemingly destined for the AHL Phantoms: center Tim Brent, defenseman Davis Drewiske, and right winger Chris Conner.

@BroadStBull