The Philadelphia Flyers have a need for a goalie and could look to the Vancouver Canucks to find one.
The Flyers have been searching for a starting goalie for years. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the free agent market doesn’t have many true starting goalies, so if the Flyers are looking for an upgrade, they could look to the trade market.
Flyers insider Kevin Kurz of The Athletic linked Philadelphia to trading for Arturs Silovs from the Canucks.
“Of course, the Flyers are still searching for another goalie to pair with Samuel Ersson,” Kurz wrote. “According to a team source, they’re reluctant to sign any of the goalies on the free-agent market to any deals longer than two years, which could take them out of the running for a guy such as Jake Allen, who’s probably the best pending UFA goalie at the moment and could be in demand.
“TSN’s Darren Dreger also reported on Wednesday that the Canucks’ Thatcher Demko is likely to sign an extension,” Kurz added. “That could open the door for the club to move 24-year-old goalie Arturs Silovs, who has had spot duty with the Canucks while also thriving for AHL Abbotsford, where he just helped the team capture the Calder Cup and was named MVP of the playoffs. Might Silovs, who is signed through next season at $850,000, be someone the Flyers call on?”
Silovs has to pass through waivers to get to the AHL, so Vancouver may look to trade him to get an asset back. The Canucks have Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko on the roster, so there isn’t really a spot for the 24-year-old.
Philadelphia has Ivan Fedotov, Samuel Ersson, and Aleksei Kolosov under contract.
Flyers Expect a Goalie to Report to Camp
Philadelphia has some major question marks on its goalie position.
The Flyers used Fedotov and Ersson last season, and both had their struggles. Kolosov, meanwhile, did appear in 17 games last season, but there were reports he may go back to Russia.
However, according to Kurz, the Flyers expect Kolosov at training camp, despite reports he may sign in the KHL.
“One other goalie note: The Flyers still expect Aleksei Kolosov to report to training camp in September,” Kurz wrote. “Kolosov’s agent, Dan Milstein, confirmed via text that they ‘haven’t had any other discussions otherwise.’ Perhaps Kolosov will be amenable to reporting to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms next season, assuming he doesn’t make the Flyers out of camp.”
Kolosov went 5-9-1 with a 3.59 GAA and a .867 SV% last season.
Flyers GM Open to Improving Goalie Position
Philadelphia is in the midst of a rebuild, but finding its franchise goalie is a need.
Despite the Flyers having three goalies under contract, general manager Daniel Briere said he’s open to making a change to the position.
“We realize the goalies did not play to the expectations that we had,” Briere said. “But there’s a lot more issues that goes into it. I’ve talked to all the goalies, they know they have a lot to prove and it’s not going to be good enough to come back at the same level. If we have a chance to improve, we are going to have to seriously consider it.”
The Flyers enter the offseason with just over $15.1 million in cap space.
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