Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: World Championships, Alumni Golf Benefit, SHL Finals

Great. Now that G and Coots are healthy they can go get hurt over the summer again so the Flyers will suffer once more. Also did Hextall have to choose Hak so no one would be salty?

Lindblom and Sandstrom

Great. Now that G and Coots are healthy they can go get hurt over the summer again so the Flyers will suffer once more. Also did Hextall have to choose Hak so no one would be salty?
- Girouxy

Keep up the optimism!

Keep up the optimism!
- jmatchett383

It's hard to be optimistic after seeing these guys skate through mud all year because of injuries they are playing through just to go play more in the summer. Maybe they should take a break and make sure they are healthy for...you know...the team that's paying the bills. I would like to be wrong.

In b4 someone says we need to trade for EKane.

Any chance Claude wears the C for Canada?

Looking forward to September after the draft.

It's hard to be optimistic after seeing these guys skate through mud all year because of injuries they are playing through just to go play more in the summer. Maybe they should take a break and make sure they are healthy for...you know...the team that's paying the bills. I would like to be wrong.
- Girouxy

Giroux's confidence is likely the lowest it's ever been in his career right now. Is a chance to end the season on a high note not worth taking?

So, after doing a little research, here are the top 5 goalies I'd be interested in, my reasons, why and what I think it would cost:

1a: Scott Darling
16-17 gaa 2.38 sv% .924 will be 29 at start of season.
Darling is a massive man who seems like the prototypical late bloomer. He has legit potential to be a solid starter and you won't have to break the bank to sign him. I think 3 years, 2.75 million aav would get it done.

1b: Anders Nilsson
16-17 gaa 2.67 sv% .923 will be 27 at start of season
Very similar to Darling, the only reason Darling gets the slightest of nods IMO, is that I think Nilsson is still adjusting to the north american game. He's not as thickly built as Darling and like many Euro goalies, sometimes backs too far into his net. However the skills are there and he's 2 years younger than my 1a. I think you could get him for the same money and term as Darling.

3: Ben Bishop
16-17 gaa 2.54, Sv% .910 will be 30 at the start of the season
Yes, he had a bit of an off year last year and yes, he is somewhat injury prone. Also, I have no interest in signing him for more than 3 years. All that being said, he's the best goalie on the market and, if you have the room, and he'll go short term, I'd have no problem paying him 21 million over 3 years.

4: Ryan Miller
16-17 gaa 2.80, sv% .914 will be 37 at start of season.
Miller's age is a concern though he is known for keeping himself in excellent shape. Though his gaa was up from 15-16, his sv % was pretty much the same so I chalk it up to playing behind an awful Canucks squad. Miller is solid vet and would pair nicely with a 1b guy like Neuvirth. Also, if you move on from Neuvirth after 17-18, he'd be a great mentor for a young rookie goalie. I'd offer 2 years, 7.5 million.

5: Jonathan Bernier
16-17 gaa 2.50, sv% .915, will be 29 at start of season
He has all the tools, but can be wildly inconsistent and that is what scares me. He's not a kid anymore and he's been around long enough for me to think that he'll always have issues with consistency. The most I'd go for is 2 years with an aav of no more than 2.75 million

In b4 someone says we need to trade for EKane.
- hereticpride

Well, if they'll take AMac for him.......

Giroux's confidence is likely the lowest it's ever been in his career right now. Is a chance to end the season on a high note not worth taking?
- Baxter27

That's a good question. Does off season non-NHL success historically ever translate to a successful NHL season? If it's Hextall's idea to find Flyer success by having 4 guys from the team win a trophy......I got nothing.....but if it works and they have success i'll gladly eat mud for my lack of optimism.

Giroux's confidence is likely the lowest it's ever been in his career right now. Is a chance to end the season on a high note not worth taking?
- Baxter27

I was thinking the same thing

Looking forward to September after the draft.
- mayorofangrytown

Which draft?

Agree with you Bigg E.

The top two goalies I have are Nilsson and Darling. And the cost is perfect if they are just bridges to Sandstrom or hart.

Agree with you Bigg E.

The top two goalies I have are Nilsson and Darling. And the cost is perfect if they are just bridges to Sandstrom or hart.
- J35Bacher

That's a good question. Does off season non-NHL success historically ever translate to a successful NHL season? If it's Hextall's idea to find Flyer success by having 4 guys from the team win a trophy......I got nothing.....but if it works and they have success i'll gladly eat mud for my lack of optimism.
- Girouxy

I really don't think there is anyway to justify 2016-2017 as a success for the Flyers.

Doesn't mean silver linings can't be found. Here is hoping the World Championships is a good experience for all Flyers involved.

I really don't think there is anyway to justify 2016-2017 as a success for the Flyers.

Doesn't mean silver linings can't be found. Here is hoping the World Championships is a good experience for all Flyers involved.
- Baxter27

Yeah, the only real success for the Flyers in 16-17 was the development and emergence of Provorov as a legit top pair Dman.

So, after doing a little research, here are the top 5 goalies I'd be interested in, my reasons, why and what I think it would cost:

1a: Scott Darling
16-17 gaa 2.38 sv% .924 will be 29 at start of season.
Darling is a massive man who seems like the prototypical late bloomer. He has legit potential to be a solid starter and you won't have to break the bank to sign him. I think 3 years, 2.75 million aav would get it done.

1b: Anders Nilsson
16-17 gaa 2.67 sv% .923 will be 27 at start of season
Very similar to Darling, the only reason Darling gets the slightest of nods IMO, is that I think Nilsson is still adjusting to the north american game. He's not as thickly built as Darling and like many Euro goalies, sometimes backs too far into his net. However the skills are there and he's 2 years younger than my 1a. I think you could get him for the same money and term as Darling.

3: Ben Bishop
16-17 gaa 2.54, Sv% .910 will be 30 at the start of the season
Yes, he had a bit of an off year last year and yes, he is somewhat injury prone. Also, I have no interest in signing him for more than 3 years. All that being said, he's the best goalie on the market and, if you have the room, and he'll go short term, I'd have no problem paying him 21 million over 3 years.

4: Ryan Miller
16-17 gaa 2.80, sv% .914 will be 37 at start of season.
Miller's age is a concern though he is known for keeping himself in excellent shape. Though his gaa was up from 15-16, his sv % was pretty much the same so I chalk it up to playing behind an awful Canucks squad. Miller is solid vet and would pair nicely with a 1b guy like Neuvirth. Also, if you move on from Neuvirth after 17-18, he'd be a great mentor for a young rookie goalie. I'd offer 2 years, 7.5 million.

5: Jonathan Bernier
16-17 gaa 2.50, sv% .915, will be 29 at start of season
He has all the tools, but can be wildly inconsistent and that is what scares me. He's not a kid anymore and he's been around long enough for me to think that he'll always have issues with consistency. The most I'd go for is 2 years with an aav of no more than 2.75 million
- BiggE

I like this list, there is one other goalie who I've always thought was very good and somewhat under the radar. Chad Johnson from Calgary. A pretty good career especially the last two years, but for whatever reason is always in a platoon. I think he could be a value signing also.

asdf

After watching the goal Elliot let in last night, my first thought was yup, he's going to be a Flyer next year.

Which draft?
- YuenglingJagr

The one that doesn't require shutting down a huge part of the city for a month so that 32 players can have their names called.

Really, why not just have the draft at the Linc??

Yeah, the only real success for the Flyers in 16-17 was the development and emergence of Provorov as a legit top pair Dman.
- BiggE

Had the potential for so much more development among other players it feels like. Really unfortunate, but Provorov was fantastic.

I like this list, there is one other goalie who I've always thought was very good and somewhat under the radar. Chad Johnson from Calgary. A pretty good career especially the last two years, but for whatever reason is always in a platoon. I think he could be a value signing also.
- ravishingone

Johnson, somewhat like Bernier has had his struggles with consistency. He'd be in the running for my 6th spot though. The fact that Bernier is a bit younger, and, when he's on, a little better, gives him the edge in my book.

OTOH, Johnson certainly wouldn't cost too much nor would you need to offer more than 2 years. It really is a buyers market when it comes to goalies this year, IMO.

After watching the goal Elliot let in last night, my first thought was yup, he's going to be a Flyer next year.
- Marc D