So more like 3 years away?
- Marc D

A couple of seasons in the AHL should make him ready to step in as a back-up... a year or so after that, if he's got enough game, he could replace Mason.

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.
- Tomahawk

I just dont want a situation where the team doesn't feel they have a chance when the backup starts. It will force them to overplay Mason because they'll need the W's

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.
- mochoson

Yeah. Its entirely unpredictable what will happen. For this next season, he'll get time in the AHL. Then, the team will re-evaluate.

Thats pretty much all you can do with goalies. Predicting their ETA is damn near impossible.

Did ghost get a serious look for the US team?

I like Emery. He is a real battler and played some memorable games this season.
I don't like that the team played differently in front of him as pointed out in the blog.
That scares me a bit from bringing him back.
Although I realize the other options may be worse.

I just dont want a situation where the team doesn't feel they have a chance when the backup starts. It will force them to overplay Mason because they'll need the W's
- PhillySportsGuy

As Feanor mentioned, it's not like Emery just put in a banner year. ~.903 is about the SV% you can statistically expect from a replacement-level goaltender.

If we barely made the PO's with a backup in the .920+ range, then I might spend a little extra to ensure that we don't lose that bit of margin. But they did fine with a guy who only played well sporadically.

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

Agreed
If it was up to me, and lord knows it ain't, I'd offer Emery 3 years, at 1.25 million per; that gives Stolarz a full three years to develop in the AHL and locks in the cap hit for our goalies at 5.35 million for the next 3 seasons which, IMO, is a perfectly acceptable number.

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

Foreshadowing??

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

Exactly -- it's all fun and games and cap savings until your starter gets hurt.

Then, Dan Ellis getting strafed because he's willing to sit for $800K isn't quite as appealing.

So more like 3 years away?
- Marc D

I think so

Agreed
If it was up to me, and lord knows it ain't, I'd offer Emery 3 years, at 1.25 million per; that gives Stolarz a full three years to develop in the AHL and locks in the cap hit for our goalies at 5.35 million for the next 3 seasons which, IMO, is a perfectly acceptable number.
- BiggE

If Emery never had any hip issues, I'd be all on board for this.

Back-up goalies are a dime a dozen though. There's good AHL goalies, like Drew MacIntyre for example, who could easily give you 25-30 solid starts that have just never gotten an opportunity to do so.

I think so
- bmeltzer

Absolutely
Most goalies need at least 2 or 3 years of minor league experience before they are ready for the NHL.

emery shouldn't play on a stanley cup team

emery shouldn't play on a stanley cup team
- 2Real

Weird, cause he's already done that.

If Emery never had any hip issues, I'd be all on board for this.

Back-up goalies are a dime a dozen though. There's good AHL goalies, like Drew MacIntyre for example, who could easily give you 25-30 solid starts that have just never gotten an opportunity to do so.
- mochoson

The hip doesn't concern me that much. He's under 35, so if the hip were to get worse and force him to retire, I believe his entire cap hit would come off the books.

emery shouldn't play on a stanley cup team
- 2Real

Yeah, he already has his ring.

As Feanor mentioned, it's not like Emery just put in a banner year. ~.903 is about the SV% you can statistically expect from a replacement-level goaltender.

If we barely made the PO's with a backup in the .920+ range, then I might spend a little extra to ensure that we don't lose that bit of margin. But they did fine with a guy who only played well sporadically.
- Tomahawk

His ES save % was good though. If the team adjusts its PK to allow more shots from the outside and less cross ice, he could get better.

Im not saying we need to re-sign Emery. There are other options and I would go with another option if Emery is expecting a similar salary. I'm just saying he isn't the worst candidate. He's been through it all and I wasn't worried about him getting blown away by the moment in the playoffs.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Should Flyers Re-Sign Emery?; Flyers at Worlds and More
- bmeltzer

I love Ray Emery and I'm really hoping Ron Hextall does too.

How often is a team completely comfortable with starting their back up in the playoffs or against top teams like recent Cup winning teams like the Kings and Hawks while they are biting and clawing just to make the playoffs.

This team is very lucky to have Steve Mason and we are even luckier that he was able to turn his career around. However, Steve Mason is not a top 10 starting goaltender in the league. At least not year in and year out. He needs support, and Ray Emery bring that. I would be more than happy to keep Ray Emery until Anthony Schultz is ready to play for the Flyers.

Cal Heeter shouldn't even be considered as an option.

Exactly -- it's all fun and games and cap savings until your starter gets hurt.

Then, Dan Ellis getting strafed because he's willing to sit for $800K isn't quite as appealing.
- AllInForFlyers

I see it as insurance. Buying insurance sucks if you never need to use it, but when you do, it's nice to have. (Please dont make this political).

I see the goalie situation in the same light. The cap savings are great up until your starter pulls a muscle.

His ES save % was good though. If the team adjusts its PK to allow more shots from the outside and less cross ice, he could get better.

Im not saying we need to re-sign Emery. There are other options and I would go with another option if Emery is expecting a similar salary. I'm just saying he isn't the worst candidate. He's been through it all and I wasn't worried about him getting blown away by the moment in the playoffs.
- PhillySportsGuy

Not at all.

If he were willing to come back in a specific salary-range, by all means sign him up again -- 100% happy with him as a backup.

I'm just prioritizing upgrades on D before anything else.

Not at all.

If he were willing to come back in a specific salary-range, by all means sign him up again -- 100% happy with him as a backup.

I'm just prioritizing upgrades on D before anything else.
- Tomahawk

I thought you wanted to go cheaper this summer

I see it as insurance. Buying insurance sucks if you never need to use it, but when you do, it's nice to have. (Please dont make this political).

I see the goalie situation in the same light. The cap savings are great up until your starter pulls a muscle.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm with you 100 percent on this.

I thought you wanted to go cheaper this summer
- PhillySportsGuy

I want Kimmo back, at the very least.

I'm with you 100 percent on this.
- AllInForFlyers

I want Kimmo back, at the very least.
- Tomahawk

I think thats going to happen. I just hope Kimmo isn't expecting $6M or things could get ugly. I don't want Kimmo to retire or play his final season with another team because he doesn't feel the Flyers are treating him fairly.