Photo Credit: msumavericks.com
For once the Philadelphia Flyers can say that they have depth in their system at the Goaltending position, and this is something that the Flyers have been lacking for a long time since possibly the departure of Goaltender Ron Hextall. Since then, the Flyers have had a carousel of goaltenders over the years, never really finding that dominate player to secure that position for any length of time. It took the Flyers bringing back Ron Hextall as the General Manager in May of 2014 before the team set any real sense of urgency on acquiring prospects and unsigned free agents that they could develop to be the next “Ron Hextall” (if you will). A player that could carry a team on his back, winning both Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophy’s in the process. With Hextall, drafting Carter Hart in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft the team seems to finally have their man between the pipes.
However, a team can never be too cautious. The way you build depth is to constantly add to it, and a little healthy competition never hurt anyone. The Flyers have some great guardians of the crease in their system already with names like Kirill Ustimenko, Felix Sandstrom, Ivan Fedotov, Samuel Ersson, and Roddy Ross. Although, apart from Ustimenko none seem ready to play in the AHL next season (Sandstrom struggled this season while playing for the Reading Royals the teams East Coast Hockey League affiliate). Kirill himself does not seem ready to make the jump up to the NHL next season, if an injury is to occur there and his presence is needed. Impending free agent goaltender Alex Lyon has been that guy in the past but has never risen to the occasion when called upon by the Flyers. Lyon has posted some beer league type numbers over the past two seasons when brought up. Posting a 5.07 goals against average (GAA) and .806 save percentage (SV%) (in 18-19 for example) these type of numbers just won’t do it. It is time to part ways with the now 27-year-old Lyon!!!
If the Flyers do so, who do they pair with Ustimenko in Lehigh Valley next season? Minnesota State University (MSU) Goaltender (Unsigned Free Agent) Dryden McKay would do the trick. This 22-year-old had a record breaking season for the Mavericks this year. Winning a substantial 30 games on the shorted season, while managing to lead the nation in both goals against average with a 1.31 (GAA), and a save percentage of .942 (SV%). If that wasn’t impressive enough Dryden (who was named after the famous Montreal Canadians goaltender Ken Dryden) also posted an NCAA leading 10 shut outs on the season! That equates to McKay recording a shut out for 30% of his wins on the season. Not to shabby right? For his efforts, this season McKay won the Western Collegiate Hockey Associations Goaltender of the year award. McKay was also was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award (given to the NCAA’s top player), and the Mike Richter Award (given to the NCAA’s top goalie).
McKay and the MSU Mavericks were ranked third in the nation when the season came to an abrupt halt. A season where Dryden had already led his team to multiple victories against last year’s National Champion Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. With the way they were playing you have to think that McKay and his team would have stood a real chance at a National Championship this season. McKay won an astonishing 86% of his starts this year. There has not been a goaltender in NCAA history since maybe Ryan Miller back in the 2000-2001 season (who played for Michigan State University) that has shown such a pure dominance at the goaltending position.
Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher would be doing himself, and his team a huge disservice if he did not at least invite this impressive young goaltender to camp in the Fall. McKay is an Undrafted Free Agent, who if signed would easily slot in ahead of most if not all the other goaltending prospects named above. McKay could potentially fill a critical role next season (that Lyon did not) being someone that the Flyers could feel comfortable with calling up if an injury occurs. The Flyers are playoff contenders once again, which means each game matters, a team must stock pile points to try to gain a better playoff position. If an emergency call-up happens due to an injury or sickness to Carter Hart or Brian Elliott, the Flyers have to have someone that can come in, stand on his head and get the team a unexpected win. As it stands now the Flyers do not have that guy, yet! Dryden McKay has the experience and mental fortitude needed to fulfill this role, already winning big games against Arizona State, Boston University, Minnesota, Alaska, North Dakota, and Minnesota Duluth. McKay has nothing else to prove at the collegiate level. He would not only benefit, but thrive at the challenges of turning Pro. Question is do the Flyers want to be the team that Dryden does that for?
