Rumor: Move coming for Flyers between the pipes?

The Philadelphia Flyers have gotten off to a pedestrian start to the 2018-19 season, going 4-4 through their first two games by alternating wins and losses. The thing is, it doesn’t have to be this way. The Flyers have a very deep offensive squad and a surprisingly mobile defence. The problem, as it has been for generations in Philadelphia, is mainly due to goaltending. Starter Brian Elliott is one of the streakiest goaltenders in the entire NHL and backups Calvin Pickard and Michal Neuvirth have proven themselves to be reliable options. Certainly for a playoff calibre team. So… what’s it going to take to turn things around?

Tom Dougherty of NBC Sports Philadelphia was blunt in his assessment of the Flyers’ goaltending situation during his weekly column yesterday and sees no way in which the Flyers can move forward without better goaltending. Is it time for GM Ron Hextall to finally make a move between the pipes?

Check out these comments from Dougherty’s latest column for NBC Sports Philadelphia:

Ron Hextall might be forced to do something about his goaltending situation — I know, obviously. But Brian Elliott has allowed too many soft goals, been too unreliable. The team defense has been porous, yes, but you need the goalie to make some saves. The Devils' second goal Saturday was just not a good one to give up. The four goals he yielded Tuesday weren't great, either.

Cal Pickard is a fringe NHL backup and Michal Neuvirth can't stay healthy. I don't think it's time to rush Carter Hart up, but the Phantoms have three goalies with Alex Lyon healthy. I think we'll see Lyon with the Flyers at some point. I think he would be here now if he hadn't suffered an injury himself. But the Flyers simply need better goaltending. Elliott was better Saturday, but the goaltending simply has to improve.

Our call? Call up Carter Hart and see what the kid can do. It’s early in the season, give the kid five games and see what he can handle. If it’s too much, as Flyers management seems to think it is, send him back for the duration of the season and there’s no harm done. As it is, the Flyers have the hottest goaltending prospect in all of hockey and a desperate need for some stability between the pipes. Why not see what the kid can do? 

Any way you look at things though, change is needed in Philadelphia. It’s just a matter of whether that change comes from within the organization or not.