Flyers Goalie Scramble

After Jaroslav Halak's trade to the St.Louis Blues all the buzz around the hockey world is what ther goalies are available. Halak was an Restricted Free Agent along with Carey Price, one of them were expected to be dealt, and one of them was. It was said that the Flyers were in the bidding for Halak, but Homer denied.

A big question is, who will be the Flyers next goalie? Or better, who will they go out and get? My Answer is nobody. The Flyers have the guys in place right now to not have to go after a "big guy" in a sub-par free agent market.

Johan Backlund, their AHL affialate's starter and 21 game winner, received a 2 year extension earlier this week. The thought is that he will contend for the starting job. Backlund was a solid starter in Sweden were he played in over 200 games. Backlund showed promise in his only start this season, playing 2 periods and letting in 2 goals to Pittsburgh.

Michael Leighton is an interseting story and his fate will most likely rest in how much faith the Flyers have that the Finals were a result of his ankle injury. Jeff Reese, the Flyers goalie coach, will also have a say in what happens as he knows Leighton best. The Flyers have expressed interest to re-sign him but the question will be if they let him hit the market come July 1st.

That leaves Brian Boucher, the concensus is: what ever the Flyers do, he will most likely be the odd man out. That could either be to the Phantoms or the 34 year old will hit the market. Boucher made a case to be the back-up next year, however with any signing he is most likely as stated early, the odd man out.

If the Flyers didn't mean that Backlund would play for the starting job next season, then it wouldn't have been said. The staff has confidence in the soon to be 29 year old. Backlund could end up starting the year as a starter if the Flyers organization sees that he's adapted to North American hockey throughly.

Backlund would also make a great back-up/starter if Michael Leighton is re-signed. Leighton needs a place to grow fully and if the Flyers and Leighton feel like this is a fit, then this could be where you'd see the Flyers go with "the hot hand". This could be fatal but the organization seems to have confidence in both guys, at the moment.