Flyers Goalie Pipeline, Led by Carter Hart, Provides Bright Future in Crease

(Kevin Durso/Sports Talk Philly)

By Jeff Quake, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

Throughout the past few decades, the Flyers faithful have witnessed the frustration of their beloved Orange and Black goalie tandem. Sure, they have had two good backups before, but the last time Philadelphia has had a legitimate goaltender was when current GM and former Flyer Ron Hextall was behind the pipes.

Ever since Bernie Parent retired, the Flyers have been trying to get back to the glory days of goaltending. Fortunately for them, the NHL Draft has served them well throughout recent memory.

In 2012, the Flyers selected Anthony Stolarz with their second-round pick. Stolarz appeared in seven games at the NHL level last season, going 2-1-1 with a 0.928 save percentage and a 2.07 GAA. In the AHL, Stolarz was 18-9-0 in 29 games 0.911 save percentage and a 2.92 GAA.

The starter for the Phantoms was Alex Lyon. Lyon, who was signed as a college free agent, went 27-14-0 in his first pro season with a 0.912 save percentage and a 2.74 GAA.

Drafted in the third round of the heavily stacked 2015 NHL Draft, Felix Sandstrom is another young goaltender to keep your eye on, as he has spent three years in the SweHL. Sandstrom was 14-7 this past season recording a 0.908 save percentage and a 2.25 GAA.

And that brings us to Carter Hart. 

It’s easy to consider Hart as the goalie of the future for the Flyers, especially with both Michal Neuvirth and Brian Elliott’s contracts ending in two seasons. Hart led the WHL in GAA (1.99), save percentage (0.927) and shutouts (9) last season. That made him the clear-cut choice for CHL Goaltender of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Not only did Hart help the team win the U.S. Division, but the Everett Silvertips also clinched the best record in the Western Conference. Hart was also named the team’s MVP for the second straight season.

When Neuvirth and or Elliott’s contracts expire, it will be the perfect opportunity for Hart to get the call to the NHL. If one of the two goaltenders for the Flyers are still around, it would be great help for Hart as he would have the veteran presence in net to look after him and help coach him along the way.

Hart is still a very young goaltender, but his path to the NHL is becoming clearer season by season. There is good reason to believe that Hart will be AHL bound once he turns 20, and have potentially one or two seasons to grow as a professional goaltender.

Goaltenders are the toughest position due to the fact that they take the longest out of any other position to develop into a legitimate player. It may even take him longer, and of course depends on how he looks during upcoming training camps and preseason games as the team gives him a longer look.

However, it wouldn't be a surprise if Hart was up to Philadelphia sooner than everybody expects him to be.

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