“To be or not to be, that is the question!!!!” That is the question the Flyers are asking themselves at the moment. One game the Flyers can beat any team in the league, and the next not so much. They are just an inconsistent hockey team at the moment. Without further delay, here are the answers to your questions.
There is no goalie controversy brewing, asides from who will be the backup netminder to the starter Carter Hart next season. Felix Sandström played well in his NHL Debut, and if the wheels continue to fall off the bus for the Flyers. Look for Sandström to get more playing time to see if Martin Jones should be re-signed for next season or not.
Samuel Ersson was playing well for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before his injury. It’s a shame really, as he posted a 0-2-1 record, 2.51 GAA, and a .906 Save Percentage in just four career professional starts for the Phantoms. Ersson gave the Phantoms a chance when they were really bad earlier in the season. Unfortunately, Sandström has and definitely now now pegged ahead of Ersson, and one can make a case for Kirill Ustimenko being pegged ahead of Ersson, solely due to Ersson’s injury.
Ivan Fedotov would skip the AHL and play in the NHL, and most teams to include the Flyers would approve of this. He’s arguably playing well in the second best league in the World (KHL), but temper the expectations on Fedotov, as the orange and black would love to have his services here in North America, but Fedotov at the moment does not want to leave Russia.
Matej Tomek, more than likely will not be given a shot here in Philadelphia, as the pipeline is stocked with some good goaltenders in Sandström, Ersson, Fedotov, and Ustimenko. It’s to see Tomek playing solid hockey in the Czech league, while posting an 11-8 record, 2.70 GAA, and a .902 Save Percentage. However, the pipeline is stocked with some solid golatending prospects for the Flyers.
There have been some player meetings following the games. If the pressers do not begin about 10-15 minutes following the game, then a players only meeting has taken place. For instance, after the Flyers were pummeled by the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-1, in which case this was former Head Coach Alain Vigneault’s last game. A players only meeting ensued, as press conferences did not begin for approximately 25 minutes following the game. Of course, I do not know what was said, but one did occur for sure.
This is a great question. I believe Chuck Fletcher will ask Claude Giroux for a list of teams he would like to be traded to, if he agrees to waive his No Movement Clause (NMC). I know this comes as a shock by some for me saying that, but I think the Flyers are what they are, a mediocre hockey team right now. The return investment would be a massive one for Giroux, and might be too good for Fletcher to pass up.
I could also see Rasmus Ristolainen and Martin Jones being moved, as well. Ristolainen will be looking for $6.5-7 million per year in the offseason. That might be too rich for Fletcher’s blood. Ristolainen has played well for the Flyers, and I would like to see him return, but clearing some cap space might be the Flyers saving grace in the end.
Jones has played much better than most anticipated, to include myself, but he is a free agent at year’s end. Fletcher could get a solid return for Jones from a contender.
Of course, all of this depends if the Flyers are in a playoff spot or not. If the Flyers are in a playoff spot, look for Ristolainen and Jones to possibly depart. If the Flyers are out of the playoffs look for the Flyers to possibly move Ristolainen, Jones, and Giroux.
The Flyers appear to be letting Yandle play to eventually surpass Doug Jarvis with 964 consecutive games played. Cam York was excellent last night, but Yandle will play until the record is broken.
There is no timeline for a Ryan Ellis return. He is not progressing in regards to his injury, and Ellis is frustrated about it, per Mike Yeo, but there is no indication when he will return. It is a lower body injury, that much has been given to us from the Flyers.
It is impossible to nearly blow the “Whole thing up”. I believe Chuck Fletcher will ask Claude Giroux for a list of teams he would like to be traded to at the trade deadline, if he agrees to waive his No Movement Clause (NMC). I know this comes as a shock by some for me saying that, but I think the Flyers are what they are, a mediocre hockey team right now. The return investment would be a massive one for Giroux, and might be too good for Fletcher to pass up.
In addition, I could also see Rasmus Ristolainen and Martin Jones being moved, as well. Ristolainen will be looking for $6.5-7 million per year in the offseason. That might be too rich for Fletcher’s blood. Ristolainen has played well for the Flyers, and I would like to see him return, but clearing some cap space might be the Flyers saving grace in the end.
Of course, all of this depends if the Flyers are in a playoff spot or not. If the Flyers are in a playoff spot, look for Ristolainen and Jones to possibly depart. If the Flyers are out of the playoffs look for the Flyers to possibly move Ristolainen, Jones, and Giroux.
Mike Yeo is a temporary fix until the offseason of course. Yeo more than likely will have the interim tag removed at the end of the season, and a coaching search will ensue.
It is a lower body injury, that much has been given to us from the Flyers. No other information has been given to us about the nature of Ellis’s injury, just it’s not progressing as Ellis would have hoped, per Mike Yeo.
This Ryan Ellis situation is such a shame. He’s a defenseman that the Flyers obviously need, and he would help them immensely. But he has to play to be able to help, rather than hurt the team. Ellis is a good defenseman, and most Flyers fans love his game. Just a shame really. Hopefully it pays off in the future.
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