The Philadelphia Flyers will bring back some of their goaltending depth for another season, signing Alex Lyon to a new one-year contract. The deal is worth $700K and will allow Lyon to avoid unrestricted free agency next month.
There’s no doubt that Carter Hart will be the Flyers starter and workhorse next season, but as we discussed yesterday goaltending depth could have even bigger importance due to the condensed schedule. Lyon, while not exactly pushing for a full-time roster spot in the NHL, does provide solid performance as an organization’s third goaltender. In 145 AHL appearances, the undrafted free agent signing has recorded a .913 save percentage and 2.73 goals-against average.
One thing to always remember with Lyon is that he is no longer waiver-exempt, meaning that in order to be stashed in the minor leagues he’ll have to pass through unclaimed. While he’s done it before, an injury at the wrong time to the wrong team could mean a desperate grab for an available netminder like Lyon.
There is also still some uncertainty over who will serve as backup for Hart in the NHL next season. Brian Elliott is scheduled for unrestricted free agency and is now 35, while the team’s other young prospects are likely not yet ready for duty in the big leagues. If they don’t sign another goalie over the next few months, Lyon could potentially have a pathway to that spot.
can we please get a better 3rd goalie?
Flyers, especially Hart, love Elliott and he seems pretty comfortable. I can’t imagine a team blowing him out of the water so much that the Flyers won’t bring him back again, especially in what seems to be a relatively goalie-rich market (if rumors are true). Lyon is a very fine 3rd goalie, and the team has shown it is comfortable spot-starting him in injury situations.
Solid, knows the system…good enough
..ish in a crunch and Ustimenko is still a ways off probably. If an 82 game season gets crunched into a small window of time next year, goalie depth will be vital. Everyone likes Moose, I’d like the upgrade there personally, Greiss would be amazing.