With the Flyers likely moving on from Brian Elliott. Some fans are wondering whose an available replacement, but quality replacement as well. There are many names on the market, and Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher will have a plethora of choices to choose from. Who will be the best fit, well let’s dive in and find out.
Linus Ullmark
Ullmark may be looking for a starting job, but if he is just trying to prove himself after leaving Buffalo, well the Flyers would be a perfect fit. He’s still young (27-years-old) with plenty of miles left on his tires.
He is a sizeable goalie as he stands at 6’4 and weighs 215 pounds. Ullmark is a confident goaltender, and he has adapted well to the North American rink size. He was 9-6-3, with a 2.63 GAA, and a .917 Save Percentage this season. Ullmark would be a quality replacement for Elliott.
Jaroslav Halak
Halak finished the season with the Boston Bruins where he amassed a 9-6-4 record, with a 2.53 GAA, and a .905 Save Percentage. He would be an excellent tutor for the young Carter Hart, and Halak will definitely hit the market. Jeremy Swayman who is just 22-years-old will take at the very least the backup goaltending spot for the Bruins. Halak is 36-years-old, but he reads the play very well, and has team first qualities.
He still has some left in the tank, and Halak has seen everything in the NHL. Halak would be a good stop gap goalie, until Samuel Ersson, Kirill Ustimenko, or Felix Sandström proves they are more than capable of handling this duty to Hart, hopefully by next season.
Frederik Anderson
Anderson would be one heck of a backup to Hart. Without a doubt, Fletcher will target Anderson, but he will have plenty of suitors. In 24 games played, Anderson finished the 2021 season with less than stellar numbers with a 2.96 GAA, and a .895 Save Percentage, but he would be worth the gamble for Fletcher to take a run at. For his career, he has registered a .914 Save Percentage, coupled with a 2.79 GAA.
He is a big goalie who fills much of the net with his frame. Anderson still possesses the physical tools to be an effective goaltender in the NHL. He would provide good tutelage to the young Hart, and he still has the abilities to steal games. Anderson can relied upon in stretches, with no worries for injury.
Jonathan Bernier
Bernier was subject to trade rumors to Philadelphia before the trade deadline commenced this past season. Now he enters the market as an Unrestricted Free Agent.
The 32-year-old in Bernier put together a solid campaign with the Detroit Red Wings this past season with accumulating a 9-11-1 record, with a 2.99 GAA, and a .914 Save Percentage. Bernier would provide good leadership to the locker room, and Hart. He’s usually positionally sound, and can steal games. His reflexes are cat like, which help him especially in the crease area. Whatever the case may be he might be what the doctor ordered to backup Hart.
James Reimer
Reimer is an interesting case. He would be an instant upgrade over Brian Elliott as he is more durable. Reimer has posted a .914 and a .906 Save Percentage in consecutive season’s. Not too bad I must say.
Durability is a key word for the Flyers as Elliott played solid hockey for the most part this past season. Unfortunately, the more he plays like a starter he gets worn down, and soft goals start to occur. Elliott is just not as durable as he once was, although he was a warrior for the Flyers. Reimer would help in a big way in this case, and would be an excellent backup to Carter Hart. At the ripe age of 33, maybe a one or two-year deal couldn’t hurt, with the hopes of one of Ustimenko, Ersson, or Sandström will be able to be the backup to Hart in one-two years
Antii Raanta
Raanta was part of the 2014-15 Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory season, however, his name was not etched on the Cup. Since then, he has seen time with the New York Rangers and Arizona Coyotes organizations.
He posted a 5-5-2 record, with a .905 Save Percentage this past season with the Coyotes. Raanta’s positioning and preparation are excellent. He makes some tough saves look easy. Raanta is capable of bringing a winning pedigree to the Flyers, and provide Hart with mentorship needed to excel at the NHL level. He is still only 32-years-young.
The Flyers need to move on from the services of Elliott. This is not a knock on Elliott, just he cannot carry the load like he once was able to for long stretches of Hart missed significant time next season.
