http://www.capgeek.com/free-agents?year_id=2014&team_id=-1&position_id=G&fa_type_id=2

Starting with Emery and working down, I don't see an option that I like better than Emery. I understand that it's not fully in the Flyers hands, but if he goes somewhere else the rest of the UFA crowd is
- Scoob

I see at least five. Last year we could have signed Khudobin for half of Emery's salary.

Greiss
Montoya
Johnson
McElhinney
Hutton

He played well in the playoffs. If you're referring to those two power play goals I don't think any goalie would have a chance against them.
- Streit2ThePoint

No he didn't. He played well in one game, poorly in two others, and had a .888 SV%.

I was referring to the fact that over the entire regular season Emery had a .840 SV% when the Flyers were shorthanded while Mason's was .894. He's simply too slow to cope with all the cross ice passes that happen on powerplays.

Schenn just sniped (kinda) a wrister past the french goalie on a PP. Will be interesting to see him with other kinds of players around him.

The best strategy here from a Flyers perspective is to patient.
- bmeltzer

Yeah, it's been a buyer's market for goaltenders since going back a good 4-5 seasons... Emery, for all his virtues, performed at the level of a replacement-level goaltender. There will be a ton of those looking for work later in the summer.

Even just a $250k or $750k cost reduction at backup would be huge with the other needs this club has, and the paltry bit of cap-space they have to fill them.

I was referring to the fact that over the entire regular season Emery had a .840 SV% when the Flyers were shorthanded while Mason's was .894. He's simply too slow to cope with all the cross ice passes that happen on powerplays.
- Feanor

Stop looking under the surface... you'll confuse people.

Schenn just sniped (kinda) a wrister past the french goalie on a PP. Will be interesting to see him with other kinds of players around him.
- PhillySteen

Yup... former NHLer Cristobal Huet in goal for France.

Paying a little more then usual for a backup means that they have to pay less somewhere else. Barring an injury, can we expect Mason to play 55-60 games? So the backup plays 20-25 games? I'd rather spend a little extra on the players who are expected to be in the lineup for every game.
- MJL

When you're a fringe playoff team, you need to have a chance to win every game. I dont want to force Mason to play 65-70 games because our backup is incapable of keeping our team in games. Paying <$1M for a backup is going to get you a Leighton type backup.

I would rather pay the extra $500k to make sure Mason isn't overplayed or give the backup a multi-year deal.

When you're a fringe playoff team, you need to have a chance to win every game. I dont want to force Mason to play 65-70 games because our backup is incapable of keeping our team in games. Paying <$1M for a backup is going to get you a Leighton type backup.

I would rather pay the extra $500k to make sure Mason isn't overplayed or give the backup a multi-year deal.
- PhillySportsGuy

As we saw in the playoffs, Emery gave the Flyers a chance to win games. Playing Mason 60 games is not overplaying him.
Let's look at what teams like Boston, NY Rangers, SJ, LA, paid for backups.

Yeah, it's been a buyer's market for goaltenders since going back a good 4-5 seasons... Emery, for all his virtues, performed at the level of a replacement-level goaltender. There will be a ton of those looking for work later in the summer.

Even just a $250k or $750k cost reduction at backup would be huge with the other needs this club has, and the paltry bit of cap-space they have to fill them.
- Tomahawk

Much more to it, then how Emery played statistically. I agree that they need to spend less on a backup, then the 1.65M they spent on Emery. I think Emery played at the level of a solid backup, and based on the team in front of him.

Paying <$1M for a backup is going to get you a Leighton type backup.
- PhillySportsGuy

I hear you on the need for a competent backup with margins so small, but there really isn't much of a correlation between salary and performance with backups.

On one hand, you have no shortage of guys like Chad Johnson every year that perform admirably on 1-year, rock-bottom contracts. On the other, you have guys like Lindback, Vokoun and Khabibulin that were making 3-4 times the money, but were outright terrible (if not landing on LTIR).

At five-on-five, B. Schenn is centering Matt Read and Jonathan Huberdeau. Schenn is also getting power play time.

Braydon Coburn is paired with Tyler Myers.

As we saw in the playoffs, Emery gave the Flyers a chance to win games. Playing Mason 60 games is not overplaying him.
- MJL

70 games would be and Emery was a solid backup. I don't think he'll re-sign for $1M unless its a multi-year deal. I said I would be happy to have him back.

I'm willing to be patient and wait things out, but the Flyers have shown they're willing to go extra cheap on their backup goalies. If they get some scrub and Mason misses significant time, the team will be in trouble.

I hear you on the need for a competent backup with margins so small, but there really isn't much of a correlation between salary and performance with backups.

On one hand, you have no shortage of guys like Chad Johnson every year that perform admirably on 1-year, rock-bottom contracts. On the other, you have guys like Lindback, Vokoun and Khabibulin that were making 3-4 times the money, but being outright terrible (if not landing on LTIR).
- Tomahawk

I just don't want them to get some fringe NHLer and think things will be fine. Its not like they have young studs who may be ready to help out by mid-season. Our backup will definitely be the #1 if Mason goes down.

70 games would be and Emery was a solid backup. I don't think he'll re-sign for $1M unless its a multi-year deal. I said I would be happy to have him back.

I'm willing to be patient and wait things out, but the Flyers have shown they're willing to go extra cheap on their backup goalies. If they get some scrub and Mason misses significant time, the team will be in trouble.
- PhillySportsGuy

Most teams are in trouble if their starting goaltender goes down. Costs have to be cut somewhere. Backup goalie is probably the best area of the team to cut costs.

At five-on-five, B. Schenn is centering Matt Read and Jonathan Huberdeau. Schenn is also getting power play time.

Braydon Coburn is paired with Tyler Myers.
- bmeltzer

I would love to read this statement next October.

I would love to read this statement next October.
- Marc D

Harbinger of things to come

Hutton, Stalock, Gustavsson, Peters, Montoya.....all guys I'm ok with replacing Emery with should he be to expensive.

How far away is Stolarz from getting a shot?
He looks like he has potential.

I would love to read this statement next October.
- Marc D

Yeah it's such a tease.

Harbinger of things to come
- PhillySportsGuy

Ok I'll settle for Braydon Coburn is playing with Erhoff.

Most teams are in trouble if their starting goaltender goes down. Costs have to be cut somewhere. Backup goalie is probably the best area of the team to cut costs.
- MJL

I just believe the Flyers are a fringe playoff team and they need to be cautious in finding a backup because a month long injury to Mason could keep the Flyers out of the playoffs if they don't have a competent backup.

Look what it did to Tampa in the playoffs.

I just don't want them to get some fringe NHLer and think things will be fine. Its not like they have young studs who may be ready to help out by mid-season. Our backup will definitely be the #1 if Mason goes down.
- PhillySportsGuy

Before this season, I think a lot of people would have considered Hutton, Scrivens and Martin Jones fringe guys who you wouldn't want to play extended minutes... you just never know until you put them in that situation. As long as they're good for 12-24 starts, I think that's all you should plan for.

If Mason gets hurt, there's always trade/waivers.

And totally understand the fear of the Leighton-factor... but remember he was terrific when he only cost $600k and you didn't care if you lost him on waivers or not. It was only after the $$ extension that he became a real pain in the ass.

How far away is Stolarz from getting a shot?
He looks like he has potential.
- Marc D

I wouldn't expect him at all next season. We'll see where he's at by next offseason though.

How far away is Stolarz from getting a shot?
He looks like he has potential.
- Marc D

Probably at least 2, if not 3 years.

An ideal scenario sees him play in the minors the next two years, with him coming up to be Masons back-up 3 years from now. What happens after that is anyone's guess.

I wouldn't expect him at all next season. We'll see where he's at by next offseason though.
- PhillySportsGuy

So more like 3 years away?

I wouldn't expect him at all next season. We'll see where he's at by next offseason though.
- PhillySportsGuy

I wouldn't expect him to have a role the next two years, save an emergency start with injuries.

History has proven the more patient you are with goalies, the better the reward.