https://youtu.be/arVntQKbYZE?t=16

One of my favorite Hartsy moments.

https://youtu.be/arVntQKbYZE?t=16

One of my favorite Hartsy moments.
- jra173

Max got wood in his wood.

It's a great low risk reward. They either find a goaltender that can play a serviceable role that won't impede the progress of Hart, but give him competition. If he doesn't work out then he gets waived and let go at end of year by giving up zero assets.
- Glak18

Exactly -- if Hart looks the part by season's end, you let Elliott and Neuvirth walk, re-sign Pickard, go Hart/Pickard and hope for the best.

If Hart doesn't look the part, you let Neuvirth walk, re-sign Elliott and Pickard and do it again next year with those two.

To me, this one simply isn't complicated. They don't trust Neuvirth -- rightfully so -- don't want to overwork Elliott, and know that the team is good enough to do something this year.

It cost them nothing, most importantly.

It's a great low risk reward. They either find a goaltender that can play a serviceable role that won't impede the progress of Hart, but give him competition. If he doesn't work out then he gets waived and let go at end of year by giving up zero assets.
- Glak18

Yeah, except that they already have 3 other goalies for that role. I am fine with the move and agree that the risk is minimal. I think the largest consequence is that you now have yet another goalie for a spot you didn't have. This was their chance to grab one though, so I'm good with it.

Flyers claim Pickard
- nastyflyergirl

I can say that I predicted that one.

Yeah, except that they already have 3 other goalies for that role
- YuenglingJagr

Maybe they just aren't has high on the upside of Stolarz as others are? At least they are making sure they have as much coverage as needed so not to rush Hart but also keep this team ready to compete.

Yeah, except that they already have 3 other goalies for that role. I am fine with the move and agree that the risk is minimal. I think the largest consequence is that you now have yet another goalie for a spot you didn't have. This was their chance to grab one though, so I'm good with it.
- YuenglingJagr

maybe they know something we dont know...or maybe we all know it...3 of our goalies are as soft as they come.

Exactly -- if Hart looks the part by season's end, you let Elliott and Neuvirth walk, re-sign Pickard, go Hart/Pickard and hope for the best.

If Hart doesn't look the part, you let Neuvirth walk, re-sign Elliott and Pickard and do it again next year with those two.

To me, this one simply isn't complicated. They don't trust Neuvirth -- rightfully so -- don't want to overwork Elliott, and know that the team is good enough to do something this year.

It cost them nothing, most importantly.
- AllInForFlyers

Don't trust Neuvirth, Stolarz, and Lyon...probably Elliott too to some extent. Bottom line is they had 4 goalies at the NHL level. Two were injured and the other two were coming off major surgeries. At the very least Pickard gives them one that is neither.

Maybe they just aren't has high on the upside of Stolarz as others are? At least they are making sure they have as much coverage as needed so not to rush Hart but also keep this team ready to compete.
- J35Bacher

I want Stolarz to be a good goaltender in the league, get an opportunity. But we can't be myopic about the reality of the situation: He was hurt last season for much of the year.

Elliott cannot be overworked -- if we're talking 60-plus games from him at 35 years old, we are begging for trouble.

Leave Hart in the AHL to develop this year. For once in our freaking lives with a goaltender, leave him alone.

I think they should keep all three goaltenders on the active roster. I don't give a damn about that old line of "only two nets in practice, uncomfortable to have three, blah blah blah."

If Michal Neuvirth doesn't like having a third goaltender around, he should've stayed healthy at any point over the last two seasons

Don't trust Neuvirth, Stolarz, and Lyon...probably Elliott too to some extent. Bottom line is they had 4 goalies at the NHL level. Two were injured and the other two were coming off major surgeries. At the very least Pickard gives them one that is neither.
- YuenglingJagr

I absolutely don't blame them for having trust issues and even if Pickard isn't amazing, I will go to my grave saying that this was the right move for this team -- they had to get another guy, IMO

I want Stolarz to be a good goaltender in the league, get an opportunity. But we can't be myopic about the reality of the situation: He was hurt last season for much of the year.

Elliott cannot be overworked -- if we're talking 60-plus games from him at 35 years old, we are begging for trouble.

Leave Hart in the AHL to develop this year. For once in our freaking lives with a goaltender, leave him alone.

I think they should keep all three goaltenders on the active roster. I don't give a damn about that old line of "only two nets in practice, uncomfortable to have three, blah blah blah."

If Michal Neuvirth doesn't like have a third goaltender around, he should've stayed healthy at any point over the last two seasons
- AllInForFlyers

Neuvirth isn't the only one affected by that though

I absolutely don't blame them for having trust issues and even if Pickard isn't amazing, I will go to my grave saying that this was the right move for this team -- they had to get another guy, IMO
- AllInForFlyers

lol bro it's just an backup goalie we are talking about

Not injured
I fear this means Neuvirth will be on the shelf for a while
- Scoob

Well Groundhog day!!! You know what happens when he get healthy.

😜 TSN is mad on Hex robbing leafs for goaltending depth.
- Landsbergfan

Pickhard or Mckelhiney*?

Neuvirth isn't the only one affected by that though
- YuenglingJagr

If he doesn't like it, there's always loan-outs. To me, my opinion, there's no way Hextall claimed Pickard because he's wanting to hear any BS from Neuvirth -- this is bigger than him.

It's about the team. I'm not the only random person projecting the Flyers as a 100-point team. The Flyers have too much invested in right now, this season, with Simmonds up at the end of the year and a potential lockout down the line, to be (frank)ing around with Michal Neuvirth's feelings

lol bro it's just an backup goalie we are talking about
- YuenglingJagr

Not for us, it's not -- some teams have horses and the backup isn't going to play a ton.

Our backups are probably going to play 25-30 games. That's a lot. They had to get another guy to be able to do that

Interesting that Weise is still practicing with the team. Wouldnt start dancing on his grave yet.

https://twitter.com/Broad.../1047180252718542848?s=19

lol bro it's just an backup goalie we are talking about
- YuenglingJagr

Have you watched the Flyers the past 20+ years? That "just a backup" is just as important to the Flyers as the starter.

I think we have been kicking the can down the line for so long that we forget that this team, right now, the 2018-19 Philadelphia Flyers, are good enough to win a playoff round.

They have some flaws, true. But they should have legitimate scoring depth at forward, two good PP units, and a elite pairing on defense.

Could they have more depth on defense? Sure. Could the PK be better? Hopefully, it won't be worse.

But they cannot allow an obvious problem with the goaltending be something that kills this season. You can't keep whistling past the graveyard with Neuvirth. I'm glad they didn't. Because they didn't give JVR $36 million to get blown out in the first round, or not even make it, because Michal Neuvrith isn't reliable

If he doesn't like it, there's always loan-outs. To me, my opinion, there's no way Hextall claimed Pickard because he's wanting to hear any BS from Neuvirth -- this is bigger than him.

It's about the team. I'm not the only random person projecting the Flyers as a 100-point team. The Flyers have too much invested in right now, this season, with Simmonds up at the end of the year and a potential lockout down the line, to be (frank)ing around with Michal Neuvirth's feelings
- AllInForFlyers

not sure how that is a response to what I said, but okay

YingleungJagger getting schooled again. Ho hum

not sure how that is a response to what I said, but okay
- YuenglingJagr

I understand the point you're trying to get at, but I think you're focusing too much on one position and not the entire team.

The Flyers can't let the goaltending get away from them this season. Last year, Hextall had to pay in-season trade prices for Petr Mrazek because of injuries and the fact they just didn't have enough.

I'm not saying Pickard is the second coming of Patrick Roy. But they couldn't risk dropping points, as a team, with Neuvirth already hurt. They probably don't make the claim if Neuvirth hadn't gotten hurt. But he did, and here we are

Glad they claimed Pickard. He's a better goalie than Stolie right now. When everyone gets healthy though there is going to be quite the logjam

Yeah, except that they already have 3 other goalies for that role. I am fine with the move and agree that the risk is minimal. I think the largest consequence is that you now have yet another goalie for a spot you didn't have. This was their chance to grab one though, so I'm good with it.
- YuenglingJagr

The Flyers can just waive him when Lyon is healthy and the Leafs can reclaim him. This might be extremely short term for Pickard and a pretty good move considering Stolarz and Elliott are returning from injuries, Neuvirth and Lyon are already out this season.

I'm considering it stop gap at the moment until I see what happens in the next couple weeks as our goalies get healthy.

The Leafs lost both of their goalies to waiver so I'd assume they'd grab Pickard back. The Canes will keep McElhinney I'm sure.

I don't care about the goalie situation. It will work itself out. None of the guys they have available are going to sway the needle one way or another much until Hart nails down the position. One or two of the ones they have will have to step up until then. I liked Stolarz's upside and still do. The long term solution is as obvious as it gets though.

The only thing that still bothers me (besides the hole at defense that will be open until Myers fills it) is Lehtera over Weal. Hopefully it changes soon. IMO Weal played better and has more to offer. 21-40-12 was a pretty ideal 4th line to start the year. Rolls tho. Either way it is still a massively improved forward group over the last few years