Felix Sandström was primed and ready for his journey with the Flyers organization the moment he signed an Entry-Level-Contract a few years ago. Sandström can move laterally from post to post well, and most times when a person thinks he is out of play somehow he finds a way to make a highlight reel save.
The former HV71 product appeared to be confident, and one could see the jubilation on his face in the locker room last year while playing for the Reading Royals, and I once again derived a quote he said to me at Flyers Developmental Camp back in 2019, “I’m confident in my abilities,” Sandström said back in 2019. “I am ready for the journey ahead, and I do not think I will have a hard time adjusting to the size of the rink. Carter Hart is a good Goaltender. I’m coming in to kill it, should be no different from Sweden. I’m going to work my butt off.”
Fast forward to the 2020-21 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. For about half the season it was anything but blissful. Sandström has moved back and forth between the Phantoms and the Flyers Taxi Squad gracefully. Moreover, he spent two-three weeks on the Taxi Squad roster at one point over the course of this season. Sandström never once complained that we know of, and I guarantee he would say it is part of the job. I explain this because his numbers do not do him justice this season with the Phantoms, as he has compiled a 4-3-2 record, 3.45 GAA, and a .897 Save Percentage. However, Sandström has played well in the past six to seven games of the season for the Phantoms, while becoming a brick wall in the process.
Sandström plays well as he sees more playing time. Some goalies need to play to keep their game fresh, especially for confidence purposes, and Sandström is one of those netminders. He was recalled to the Flyers Taxi Squad throughout the course of the season, but never once got his time to shine in the NHL. Well, now Sandström is headed to the Liiga league as he signed a one-year deal with TPS. Below is the article of Sandstrom officially signing his one-year deal with HCTPS in Finland.
The young 24-year-old netminder in Sandström hoped to build off last season, and he has done such. Do not give up on this promising netminder Flyers fans as Chuck Fletcher will qualify him to retain his rights like Mikhail Vorobyev, and David Kaše. It is quite shocking however, as Sandström would have been at the least the third goaltender on the Flyers depth chart this season, assuming Alex Lyon did not return.
Flyers Quotes from Ian Laperrière:
“I’m very excited for this next challenge in my career and I would like to thank Chuck Fletcher, Brent Flahr and Barry Hanrahan, as well as Jim and Rob Brooks for this opportunity,” Lappy said yesterday. “The Phantoms are a first-class organization in the AHL and the fan base in Lehigh Valley are the very best at showing their support at every game. I look forward to developing the players in our system, helping the Flyers reach their goals by continuing the success of the Phantoms and building towards winning a Calder Cup Championship.”
