If the Flyers are going to make any sort of upgrade this season ahead of a playoff run, it should come in net.
If the Flyers are going to make any sort of upgrade this season ahead of a playoff run, it should come in net.
The Philadelphia Flyers have cap space to work with and they are in a good spot to get back into the playoffs this season. There is still a lot of back-and-forth around the league as to whether we will see this team sell a few pieces, stand pat, or even add a little bit for a potential run.
As there's nothing exciting about a playoff team standing pat, let's look at a potential addition that may seem smaller, but could play a key role for the Flyers down the stretch and into the playoffs.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oen9utIKwnk[/embed]
The Flyers don't have Carter Hart anymore this season, so they have been running with Samuel Ersson. He is only a rookie and it is a lot to ask of him to play as much and do as much as the 24-year-old already has for the Flyers this season. The team needs some help, but not in a big way that includes any talks involving starters like Juuse Saros or Jacob Markstrom. That doesn't make sense this season and doesn't line up with the Flyers' timetable to actually win.
Rather, what the Flyers need is a solid backup or 1b goalie who is a veteran presence and can take over and win if needed. This goalie just so happens to be Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv-WbCduZhw[/embed]
The closer the Canadiens get to the trade deadline with three goalies still on their roster, the more desperate they should get to finally just move one. Allen has always been the most likely and shouldn't break the bank for the Flyers to acquire. They haven't trusted Cal Petersen, so much so that Ersson has appeared in 13 of the last 14 games, and that's going back to when Hart was still playing games.
Petersen has played just two games since early November and Ersson is being overworked. The Flyers need to get Ersson some help from someone that isn't costly. Allen provides everything the Flyers should need this season to at least give them a better chance without giving up anything significant. This also takes care of next season as well since Allen is under contract through 2025. The Flyers may stay fairly quiet, but if they make a move, some help in net should be one of their top priorities.
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