Bill Meltzer: Breaking Down Hart's 2020-21 Struggles, Quick Hits

You can break it down anyway you want but Hart was awful last year. Totally lost confidence and his glove hand was too slow and angles were bad. You are 100% right if Flyers are going to be successful this year its vital Hart have a strong year. We will find out what he is made of this year. As you stated ,last year was probably the first adversity he has ever faced in his goaltending career and he seemed very fragile. Defensive changes will help but blaming the defense for the save % and goals against last year is overblown.

“Snider privately vowed that he'd never again see a Philadelphia team manhandled in that manner.”

This mantra and commitment, unfortunately, died when Ed passed away.

You can break it down anyway you want but Hart was awful last year. Totally lost confidence and his glove hand was too slow and angles were bad. You are 100% right if Flyers are going to be successful this year its vital Hart have a strong year. We will find out what he is made of this year. As you stated ,last year was probably the first adversity he has ever faced in his goaltending career and he seemed very fragile. Defensive changes will help but blaming the defense for the save % and goals against last year is overblown.
- hfc355

Watch his April starts. The glove issue was resolved. By the way, the Flyers yielded the most backdoor-goals in the NHL this past season. That, in turn, played into short-side issues. So team defense -- not just the blueline starting six but the skaters as a whole-- absolutely played directly into the save percentage problem. Later, goalies' struggles in their own right left no margin for error and dragged the offense down with it.

The team and goalies were putrid last year, going to need everyone to get this ship back on track. Not too worried about Hart, he’s had success everywhere he’s gone, the NHL is very difficult to be a goaltender, no goalies go without their bumps in the road.

Sanheim signed 3.25 cap hit.
Edit: looked at prior contract on capfriendly. My bad. Lol

Hart will be fine, relax. Young goalies often have setbacks early in their careers after teams get the book on them. Now it’s Carter’s turn to counter, put the time in and correct his weaknesses. Arguably the best goalie this past season, had struggled mightily early on in his career, especially in the playoffs.

Hart is young, has the ability, skill, smarts to get through it. I really expect him to rebound well and grow with the team. His communication with the D will be vital as that seemed to be missing the last few seasons, and Ellis should be a big help with that. A little structure and maybe a regular non covid type season (maybe......hopefully.....) and I would not be surprised to see him in the top half of the goalies in the league again. Any star goalies out there who never had a bad run of 20-30 starts I remember the legendary Price looking quite weak against the Flyers and Umberger

The team and goalies were putrid last year, going to need everyone to get this ship back on track. Not too worried about Hart, he’s had success everywhere he’s gone, the NHL is very difficult to be a goaltender, no goalies go without their bumps in the road.
- ClaudeFather

I still firmly believe that when all is said and done, Hart will be a top 10 NHL goalie if not top 5.

I still firmly believe that when all is said and done, Hart will be a top 10 NHL goalie if not top 5.
- MJL

He has all the tools for this to happen. Just up to him to use them.

I still firmly believe that when all is said and done, Hart will be a top 10 NHL goalie if not top 5.
- MJL

I agree. Would you gamble and offer him a slightly higher AAV than a typical bridge deal to try to lock him up for say 4 or 5 years now? With the logic being that the last few years of that deal would be a steal if he lives up to your expectations.

It's definitely risky, but I think I would do it. Let's face it, if Hart doesn't become a clear-cut franchise goalie in the next year or two, this team will be pretty much screwed anyway. Being a capped out team that would be going FA shopping for a #1 goalie in a couple of years... Might as well roll the dice on Hart now

I still firmly believe that when all is said and done, Hart will be a top 10 NHL goalie if not top 5.
- MJL

Agreed, he has the makeup of an elite goalie, he works hard, has all the skill, and seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

#79 in your program
#1 in your “Harts”
Cahtah will fine. He’s a tough kid with a ton of talent.

And nearly the entire fan base behind him 100%!

Most goalies don’t make it to the nhl until they are older. Mental reset. A better defense at least on paper (sure they will be once the season starts and we can watch).

I agree. Would you gamble and offer him a slightly higher AAV than a typical bridge deal to try to lock him up for say 4 or 5 years now? With the logic being that the last few years of that deal would be a steal if he lives up to your expectations.

It's definitely risky, but I think I would do it. Let's face it, if Hart doesn't become a clear-cut franchise goalie in the next year or two, this team will be pretty much screwed anyway. Being a capped out team that would be going FA shopping for a #1 goalie in a couple of years... Might as well roll the dice on Hart now
- Big_E_88

4 Year would be great, No free agents coming up as of yet at 4 years, 4 for Hart and Sahheim both

I still firmly believe that when all is said and done, Hart will be a top 10 NHL goalie if not top 5.
- MJL

Now there's the optimism I love to see

Hart might end up being a great goalie, but the vast majority of promising young goalies end up being average at best too. Just a lot of random outcomes in the position.

Which is why Hextall wanted him to have some time down in the AHL. To let him learn and overcome on a lesser stage. Now we will find out what the kid is made of now that he's struggled on the big stage. I just wonder if losing his longtime sports psychologist is going to affect him going forward.

Hart will bounce back this season. Team defence and his play both will be more consistent. I expect them to be a top tier team

Which is why Hextall wanted him to have some time down in the AHL. To let him learn and overcome on a lesser stage. Now we will find out what the kid is made of now that he's struggled on the big stage. I just wonder if losing his longtime sports psychologist is going to affect him going forward.
- Pelle31

Wasn't it Hextall who brought Hart up to the NHL? Pretty sure Hextall was responsible for that goaltender fiasco, that season, that ended up with Hart's early call up.

I thought Hart was back with his longtime sports psychologist?

Watch his April starts. The glove issue was resolved. By the way, the Flyers yielded the most backdoor-goals in the NHL this past season. That, in turn, played into short-side issues. So team defense -- not just the blueline starting six but the skaters as a whole-- absolutely played directly into the save percentage problem. Later, goalies' struggles in their own right left no margin for error and dragged the offense down with it.
- bmeltzer

Fully agree on the back door goal issue Bill. Excellent point.

I still firmly believe that when all is said and done, Hart will be a top 10 NHL goalie if not top 5.
- MJL

My exact view as well.

No goalie would have survived unscathed in our net this past season.

Wasn't it Hextall who brought Hart up to the NHL? Pretty sure Hextall was responsible for that goaltender fiasco, that season, that ended up with Hart's early call up.

I thought Hart was back with his longtime sports psychologist?
- Dkos

No. Hextall was let go a month before they recalled Hart from the Phantoms.

The last I heard he wasn't back with his psychologist. Maybe he is back with him and I'd hope that's the case.

In any event, wasn't Hart brought up during the time they went through 166 or so goalies that one season?

I don't think whomever the GM was had a choice.

What’s the quick explanation of how the ltir cap space works. I know by now most fans understand but I’m still mildly lost. Tampa trades for Seabrook and he’s ltir does that somehow allow them to go over the cap beyond his salary amount or was that just to get tj off the books