Former Flyers goalie Alex Lyon is one of the best free agent goalies this offseason. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ba4367d8-127b-4d1b-bbdc-5fff7d8ff7b2.jpeg] Former Flyers goalie Alex Lyon is one of the best free agent goalies this offseason. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images) The Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] picked a bad time to need a goalie from the NHL free agent market. Of the 12 unrestricted free agent goalies, two had a save percentage of .900 or higher, and none of the 12 recorded more than 16 wins this season. The top option in free agency, Jake Allen [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/nhl-free-agency-flyers-goalie-jake-allen-not-good-fits-for-each-other], is still playing at a high level and will draw attention from Stanley Cup contenders, including his own team, the New Jersey Devils. The former Stanley Cup [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-2026-stanley-cup-odds-better-than-the-canadiens] champion will receive offers more suitable from elsewhere around the NHL. So what does that leave the Flyers with? An old friend and a bunch of redemption stories. Leading the pack, and perhaps the most likely of the bunch if for no reason other than a feel-good story to carry us through what could very well be another long year, is Alex Lyon, who spent five years with the Flyers organization after going undrafted out of the USHL. Lyon, 32, fell apart after a strong start to his pro career, but re-emerged with the Florida Panthers two seasons ago. The former Flyers goalie has spent the last two seasons - his first and only two as a full-time NHLer - with the Detroit Red Wings, going 35-27-6 in 74 games to the tune of a 2.96 GAA, a .901 save percentage, and three shutouts. Spectacular numbers? Certainly not, but the Flyers can do (and have done) worse at the position. Lyon is a veteran and has been through the grind of the AHL, which should help set a positive example for the younger goalies in the organization, like Aleksei Kolosov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-goalie-prospect-will-receive-big-opportunity-after-latest-roster-change] and Carson Bjarnason [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-prospects-end-of-season-rankings-a-dog-and-a-king]. Among 45 goalies who played 30 or more games this season, Lyon's 2.4 goals saved above expected ranked 26th in the NHL, per MoneyPuck [https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm]. Flyers starter Sam Ersson ranked 45th out of 45 with -19.9. Another name to watch - and there aren't many - is Ottawa Senators netminder Anton Forsberg. Ex-Flyers Defenseman Ivan Provorov Signs Absurd Contract Ahead of NHL Free Agency [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/20a5fe46-1248-437e-9ffa-baee6ef38f61.webp] Ex-Flyers Defenseman Ivan Provorov Signs Absurd Contract Ahead of NHL Free Agency The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have won the Ivan Provorov trade in more ways than one. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/ex-flyers-defenseman-ivan-provorov-signs-absurd-contract-ahead-of-nhl-free-agency] The 32-year-old Swede has been with Ottawa since 2020-21 and has generally never played for great teams at the NHL level, aside from a three-game stint with Carolina in 2019-20. Despite that, Forsberg owns a respectable .904 career save percentage. In Ottawa, Forsberg was 62-56-10 in 142 games, posting a 2.99 GAA, a .905 save percentage, and eight shutouts. Again, like Lyon, not spectacular, but achieves the goal the Flyers are setting out for this summer. It should be noted that Forsberg is coming off a three-year contract worth $2.75 million a year and could easily bargain for the same on this market. That could prove to be a little rich for the Flyers' tastes, especially knowing that Lyon was pulling in a more modest $900k for his services. In terms of goals saved above expected this season, Forsberg finished right behind Lyon, placing 27th with 2.2 goals saved above expected. One last free agent goalie the Flyers should be considering is none other than former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov, who has seen his fair share of ups and downs after once being considered one of the most exciting goalie prospects in the world. Flyers Reportedly Rejected Islanders Trade to Secure Porter Martone [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7fcbc8d2-61a7-49f8-ab59-51cc814251c8.webp] Flyers Reportedly Rejected Islanders Trade to Secure Porter Martone The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> were open to lots of things ahead of the NHL Draft, but, ultimately, a bold New York Islanders trade offer wasn't enough to pull them away from selecting Porter Martone with the sixth overall pick. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-reportedly-rejected-islanders-trade-to-secure-porter-martone] The 28-year-old has posted .890 and .891 save percentages in consecutive seasons, but also has two seasons under his belt with save percentages of .913 or higher. If and when he leaves the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-dodged-major-bullet-avoiding-strange-nicolas-hague-trade], Samsonov will be on his third team in three years, so a one-year prove-it deal is in the cards if the Flyers make an offer. By most metrics recorded by MoneyPuck, Samsonov performed about how he was expected to this season, even despite his underwhelming raw stats. For instance, MoneyPuck has him at 0.6 goals saved above expected for the year, a save percentage 0.0004% above expected, and a GAA 0.02 above expected. Basically, Samsonov was not actively crushing his team's chances of winning games, but also not providing any surplus value beyond that. Interestingly, Samsonov's 0.825 high-danger save percentage was 0.135 above expected, which is considerable. The talent has always been there for the Russian, but consistency has not. If the Flyers feel they can get any value out of a short-term stay, Samsonov is worth a dart throw in free agency this year.
