3 Goalie Targets to Replace Flyers' Carter Hart

The Philadelphia Flyers could make a trade to bolster their goaltending position beyond this year.

With Carter Hart now excluded from the Philadelphia Flyers squad moving forward, it is time to figure out the future in net.

Flyers general manager Daniel Briere has made it clear he has full faith in Samuel Ersson as a potential No. 1. But who will be his sidekick?

Cal Petersen has taken over duties for Hart in the meantime, but it is unlikely he is a long-term solution. So, let's dive into who could build a new tandem in net for Philadelphia.

Plenty of teams have been shopping Vejmelka, and it is apparent he could be moved at the trade deadline in a couple of weeks. The Arizona netminder has been a consistent stalwart for the Coyotes over the past three seasons, often preventing the rebuilding team from getting blown out every night. Now, as Arizona has started to have more success this season, Vejmelka has been losing starts to youngster Connor Ingram. 

While contenders such as Carolina, New Jersey, and Edmonton might be more aggressive in the goalie market come March 8th, the Flyers could also further establish who they will have in net for the future. Vejmelka could very well be the 1B option to Ersson and with how the league has trended, many of the top teams have adopted the two-goaltender style as opposed to riding one goaltender the whole season. 

Vejmelka has one more year on his 3-year contract at a cap hit of $2.725 million. This season, he boasts a 6-11-2 record with a 3.33 GAA and a .897 save percentage. 

Despite their surprising success this season, the Flyers remain in a rebuild. While some fans might desire them to make moves for a playoff run, the plan for Briere will be to sell off expiring contracts and continue building for the future.

So, should they stand pact with Ersson and Petersen for the rest of the season, free agency could be where the Flyers look to find a goaltender. 

How about bringing back a former Flyer?

Martin Jones has been really solid when called upon by the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. A save percentage resting at .911 and a GAA of 2.64, Jones has been a steady part of the three-headed snake in net for the Leafs, joined by Joseph Woll and Ilya Samsonov. 

The 34-year-old is a free agent this summer and a return to Philadelphia could be on the cards. The Stanley Cup winner with the LA Kings would be a solid mentor for Ersson as he navigates his way to a full-time starter while also proving to be a very reliable backup. If Philadelphia chooses the veteran route, Jones would be a top choice.

Another name being tossed around on the goalie market is San Jose backstop Kaapo Kahkonen. The 27-year-old Finn has been quite good for a woeful Sharks team this season. It is quite impressive to have a .901 save percentage on a team giving up the most goals in the NHL. 

In the most recent 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman highlighted that both Kahkonen and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood "deserve better than what they've had to deal with". He also mentioned that teams are interested in Kahkonen, but with caution because no one has seen him play in high-pressure games. 

Could that hesitation allow for the Flyers to jump in? Kahkonen is an unrestricted free agent next season so certainly the Sharks will be looking to move him. Kahkonen could be the kind of guy that could grow with Ersson as a one-two punch in net. Not to mention that the pressure is not on Philadelphia to win. Should they sneak into the playoffs, that is experience to gain for both goalies. Should they not, it is a potential investment for the future.

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