The Philadelphia Flyers excelled between the pipes last season with Michal Neuvirth and Steve Mason making one of the league’s best tandems. The duo combined for the best even strength save percentage at .934 in the NHL per Hockey Analysis.
[link_box id=”22277″ site_id=”17″ layout=”link-box-third” alignment=”alignright”]General manager Ron Hextall has some tough decisions ahead of him. Neuvirth and Mason are on an even playing field in terms of capabilities. Both are legitimate starting options. Hextall has to concern himself about who’s the long-term starter because both goaltenders are pending unrestricted free agents.
Speaking with the Courier-Post online, Hextall said he was unsure about how the organization would handle the duos free agency.
“There could be,” Hextall said. “Maybe we sign them both. I can’t predict. They’re both very good goalies. They both proved it last year. They both should be in their prime/entering their prime. We’re excited about both of them and essentially don’t have a fixed plan moving forward.”
Hextall admitted he doesn’t intend to negotiate with either goaltender during the season. The Flyers GM wants to see the situation play out then determine the best course of action. Philadelphia has two solid goalie prospects in 2012 second-round pick Anthony Stolarz and NCAA free agent Alex Lyon waiting in the wings. Neither are currently at the level of Mason or Neuvirth, but both represent a fallback option should negotiations falter.
At the end the day, Hextall would probably like to have both goaltenders signed up long-term. But, Mason and Neuvirth are both starting goalies who will get paid and it’s doubtful both would take discounts to remain part of a tandem. Add in the looming expansion draft and the picture becomes even more cloudy. It’s almost certain Flyers goaltending will look somewhat different in 2017-18.
