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 four to five games, while becoming a brick wall for the Phantoms.
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 yesterday, so why shouldn’t he start the season finale on Monday against the New Jersey Devils? Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said that Brian Elliott will start tonight against the Washington Capitals and Alex Lyon would start Saturday against the Capitals, so why not give Sandström the final start of the season to see what he has got.
Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher has proven to be a proponent of rewarding players for their play with a call-up to the big club. Well, Sandström has bounced around so much between the Taxi Squad roster and the Phantoms admirably. I believe he has earned a shot to show what he’s got in the finale.
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. Every prospect is different in terms of how they grow, and netminders usually take a bit more time to develop than Forwards or Defensemen. Let’s have patience, and see how it goes.
Flyers News:
Shayne Gostisbehere does not approve of the two game suspension he was given by the NHL, and he voiced his displeasure of such yesterday to us following practice, “I completely disagree with it,” Ghost said. “I think they completely missed the mark.”
