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Flyers To Sabres: Lehn Me A Goalie |
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On the same day the Calgary Flames dodged a huge bullet with the health of their injured starting goalie Mike Smith, the Philadelphia Flyers have been dealt a crappy hand regarding their #1 tendy.
Brian Elliott had surgery and will be lost for six weeks or more.
The Flyers are now acting like their NFL brothers the Philadelphia Easgles, who won the Super Bowl while starting QB Carson Wentz was injured late in the regular season.
Sorry Philly fan. Michal Neuvirth is NOT Nick Foles. The Flyers back up will not be winning any championships for Philly this season.
"Brian Elliott had successful core muscle surgery this morning," Flyers GM Ron Hextall said late Tuesday afternoon. "He's expected to be out 5-6 weeks."
Elliott suffered the injury in Saturday's Flyers-Coyotes game at Arizona.
Elliott was forced to leave the game in the second round of the shootout after suffering a lower-body injury. Journeyman Neuvirth entered the game and earned the Flyers the win.
Flyers management must have thought the worst the moment Elliott injured himself in Arizona. Elliott, 32, has a history of groin/abdominal injuries.
Like Mike Smith, Jonathon Quick, Jaro Halak and other aging NHL goalies, Elliott's core and groins have lost elasticity, broken down over time due to excessive usage. Elliott has a lot of miles on his money makers.
Elliott signed with the Flyers last summer. Elliott is the guy warming the seat for hot shot prospect Carter Hart, who is still playing in junior hockey. Elliott is 21-11-7 with a 2.72 GAA of .908 SV% through 41 games.
Since December 4, Elliott has been among the best in the NHL with a 15-5-1 record, 2.51 GAA and .912 SV%. His 15 victories rank third among all NHL goaltenders in that span, and helped lead the Flyers to a 20-8-2 record, which is the best in the Metropolitan Division and third best in the entire league.
This is the second time this season Elliott has missed time due to an injury. Elliott was placed on injured reserve and missed four games from January 25-February 3.
Alex Lyon has been called up from their AHL Lehigh Valley to serve as back-up for Michal Neuvirth.
I told you on Saturday that the Flyers have been scouting the Buffalo Sabres rather frequently in 2018. Flyers scouts have been attending Sabres games and Rochester Amerks contests. The Amerks vistited the Phantoms Saturday night and it prompted heavy trade speculation. The Elliott injury is a serious punch to the solar plexus of the Flyers, who have 65 points and are currently in third place in the Metropolitan Division.
A four or five game losing streak with Neuvirth tending the bars could derail Philly's playoff aspirations. Neuvirth has been a disappointment this season. He has a propensity to buckle under pressure.
Hextall needs help and he needs it now.
The Flyers are one of five teams that continue to scout pending RFA Robin Lehner. The Devils, Flames, Ducks, Blackhawks, Islanders, and Jets are also watching Lehner.
Lehner is a gamer. The Big Swede owns a 2.90 GAA and .910 SV%.
The 26 year old veteran has allowed 110 goals on 1,229 shot attempts this season. Lehner reminds Hextall of his yoinger self. Big, tough, competitive and not afraid to two-hand slash and throw a dozen blocker jabs at an opponents face. The Sabres are willing to move Lehner at the NHL trade deadline because they are going to be trading the unrestricted free agent and possibly their RFAs in exchange for blue chip prospects and premium draft choices.
The Sabres are out of the playoff race. Jack Eichel is injured for teh next 4-6 weeks and Jason Botterill will be trading away his UFAs and players on expiring contracts in the next two weeks.
Jason Botterill is looking to upgrade his speed, skill and physicality on his blue line.
Phil Housley can use more skill in his top nine forward group.
The Sabres have been scouting the Flyers in hopes of prying away one (or two) of their young D prospects in Samuel Morin or Travis Sanheim. Forward Travis Konecny (1st round 2015) is a young player that can infuse skill into Buffalo's top six forward group. Konecny, 20, has played 126 NHL games and has scored 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 point. In 56 games this season, Konecny has 13 goals and 16 assists and has tied his career high for points scored during a campaign.
Morin, the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, is a top four D. He is 6'7" and 230 lbs. and is very difficult to play against. Morin is a big man with heavy fists and soft hands. He plays in all situations.
Sanheim is was the 17th overall pick at the 2014 NHL Draft. Sanheim is 6'3" and 200 lbs. Sanheim has top four skill and can play in all situations. On Saturday night, Sanheim collected three assists in Lehigh Valley's 5-3 loss to the Rochester Amerks.
Konecny, 20, has played 126 NHL games and has scored 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points. In 56 games this season, Konecny has 13 goals and 16 assists and has tied his career high for points scored during a campaign.
Morin and Sanheim each have played in Philadelphia this season. The Flyers blue line is a crowded house with veterans Shayne Gostisbehere, Andrew MacDonald, Radko Gudas leading two young star defenders in Ivan Provorov and Robert Hagg. The two kids are playing remarkably well for Dave Hakstol, which means that Morin and Sanheim have to bide their time in the AHL.
The Flyers are said to be interested in Sabres forward Samson Reinhart who has scored 11 goals and 16 assists in 56 games played this season. The second overall pick at the 2014 NHL Draft, Reinhart has scored 51 and 66 for 117 points in 223 career games with the Sabres.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning are in Buffalo tonight. Roobin Lehner has been given the night off. Chad Johnson will get the start.
There are a ton of notable quotable NHL personnel men in the house tonight including:
Calgary Flames director of pro personnel (Looking at Evander Kane?)
St. Louis Blues director pro personnel (Looking at Evander Kane?)
NY Rangers director of pro scoutong (plus a NYR scout). (Looking at Bolts for Ryan McDonagh trade compenssation?)
Carolina Hurricanes director of pro scouting (Looking at Evander Kane?)
Vegas Golden Knights special assistant to general manager (Looking at Evander Kane?)
Also, scouts from LA Kings, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks,
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