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Philadelphia Flyers: Should they Trade a Goalie?

By Patrick Lawson

Apr 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Chris VandeVelde (76) consoles goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) after losing game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center. The Capitals won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Chris VandeVelde (76) consoles goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) after losing game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center. The Capitals won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the Philadelphia Flyers’ off-season in full swing, we will take a look at one of the potential moves the broad street bullies might be enticed to make this summer. Should the Flyers trade one of their goaltenders?

After a tremendous performance from both Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth, the Flyers sneaked their way into the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers first round opponent would be the regular season kings, the Washington Capitals.

The Philadelphia Flyers, after a grueling set of games to get into the playoffs, quickly found themselves down 3 games to none to the Capitals. Starting goaltender Steve Mason did not play awful, (except for that mental lapse in game 2, we’ll forgive him for that.) but being down 3 games to none meant it was time for a change. In steps number 2 goalie, Michal Neuvirth and oh boy did he perform. If not for Neuvy, the Philadelphia Flyers may have had an earlier start to their offseason.

The Philadelphia Flyers went on to win game 4, stole game 5 with a gem from Neuvirth, and ultimately lost game 6 to a superior Washington Capitals lineup. But what we did learn from this series? The Flyers have two really good goaltenders. 

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    • Now the questions comes should the flyers trade one of them?

    My answer is no. If you don’t have Mason down the stretch you don’t get in the playoffs period. If you also don’t have Neuvirth, you don’t have him pushing Mason with his play to be a number one and someone that can take the baton from Mason and win you a string of games.

    Even with Neuvirth having the higher trade value at the moment, I don’t think you can get a lot back for him. The only way Hextall is trading one of his goaltenders is if a team is willing to offer a top 6 scoring winger for one of those goalies.

    Scoring comes at a premium in this league, as we just saw with this year’s Philadelphia Flyers team. So all in all, I just don’t see another team in the league trading away a top 6 scoring forward for either Mason or Neuvirth.

    I can understand the reason why someone would want the Philadelphia Flyers to trade one of them, but the options to replace either Mason or Neuvirth are extremely underwhelming in terms of free agency.

    Philadelphia Flyers
    Apr 16, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) kneels on the ice after giving up a fluke goal against the Washington Capitals in the second period in game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 4-1, and lead the series 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

    Michael Leighton is one of the many names headlining the free agent goalie list this summer, so that can give you a gauge on how good this free agent class is for netminders. All kidding aside, Hextall proclaims patience with his young players so he won’t rush Anthony Stolarz or Alex Lyon. I personally would want Stolarz to be the number one at Lehigh Valley for one more year with Lyon as the number two.

    Next: Flyers Goaltending Past, Present, and Future

    I can’t tell the future, but what I think is that the compensation received for trading Michal Neuvirth would not equal his play. Imagine having these two goalies with an improved defense and some scoring. We wouldn’t be sitting here watching the Penguins lift the Stanley Cup that’s for sure.

    If Hextall does decide to trade one of the goalies, I wouldn’t be upset over it. I just hope they would get an extremely good return on either of them.

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