I just believe the Flyers are a fringe playoff team and they need to be cautious in finding a backup because a month long injury to Mason could keep the Flyers out of the playoffs if they don't have a competent backup.

Look what it did to Tampa in the playoffs.
- PhillySportsGuy

Upgrading the defense could raise them above a fringe playoff team.

emery shouldn't play on a stanley cup team
- 2Real

So we'll put you on the "Re-sign Emery" list.

I disagree with this premise -- is he the goalie Mason is? No, of course not. As was detailed in the blog, there are things that Emery can't do that can be exploited.

But at the same time, there were some games where the Flyers simply didn't play well in front of Emery, as well. A backup goaltender sometimes gets games where winning isn't quite as easy -- second night of a back-to-back, or final night of three-in-four -- where sometimes, the scenarios just aren't ideal.

I don't mean to make excuses for Emery -- it might be that there are better options. But I do think that Emery's toughness, willingness to be a good teammate and veteran experience are very tangible assets.
- AllInForFlyers

just from an outsiders view, i thought emery actually did fairly well overall. no, he didnt steal game after game. but i mean he is a backup. their job is primarily to give the team a shot to win on any given night. and by and large, emery did just that. a team shouldnt be able to give a lackluster performance in front of their backup and expect to win, which is what often occurred.

besides, i feel like emery got a higher percentage of unsavory matchups for goalies.

I would be happy to bring back everyone, minus Kimmo Timonen. I love the minute but I'm speaking from an age standpoint. I know many will read this and think "Wow, you're crazy, he is our number one defenseman". Is he though? Yes he plays in a lot of important situations, yes he's on the number one power play unit but does all of this really mean he's been our clear cut number one guy the past two seasons? Next season could mean Coburn continues to eat the most ice time, especially in most defensive/PK situations while Streit finally hopes on the first PP unit and doing a stellar job. Matt Carle I believe had more points then Timonen while only being on the second power play unit. That seemed season, Braydon Coburn and Nicholas Grossman where a defensive pair taking on the opposing teams' top talents.

Bill Meltzer ‏@billmeltzer 3m

Brayden Schenn has been dominating today for Team Canada, even apart from his goal.

Just sayin'. Maybe giving the guy two wingers is kinda what the Flyers REALLY need to be doing.

Bill Meltzer ‏@billmeltzer 3m

Brayden Schenn has been dominating today for Team Canada, even apart from his goal.

Just sayin'. Maybe giving the guy two wingers is kinda what the Flyers REALLY need to be doing.
- AllInForFlyers

seriously. if youre going to view a guy as part of this unmovable youth core, which im not saying is correct or not, but that appears to be the stance with him. if thats the case. then you need to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

Bill Meltzer ‏@billmeltzer 3m

Brayden Schenn has been dominating today for Team Canada, even apart from his goal.

Just sayin'. Maybe giving the guy two wingers is kinda what the Flyers REALLY need to be doing.
- AllInForFlyers

We should trade him for Rundblad and give VL the keys to the 2nd line car

We should trade him for Rundblad and give VL the keys to the 2nd line car
- PhillySportsGuy

come on now dont insult yourself. you can have despres for him

Bill Meltzer ‏@billmeltzer 3m

Brayden Schenn has been dominating today for Team Canada, even apart from his goal.

Just sayin'. Maybe giving the guy two wingers is kinda what the Flyers REALLY need to be doing.
- AllInForFlyers

God yes.

We should trade him for Rundblad and give VL the keys to the 2nd line car
- PhillySportsGuy

Man, I'm about ready to bare-knuckle street-fight anyone who is ready to trade that guy so another team can give him two wingers and watch him be the player he can be

Bill Meltzer ‏@billmeltzer 3m

Brayden Schenn has been dominating today for Team Canada, even apart from his goal.

Just sayin'. Maybe giving the guy two wingers is kinda what the Flyers REALLY need to be doing.
- AllInForFlyers

when was the last time we uttered the name, bobby ryan!

just from an outsiders view, i thought emery actually did fairly well overall. no, he didnt steal game after game. but i mean he is a backup. their job is primarily to give the team a shot to win on any given night. and by and large, emery did just that. a team shouldnt be able to give a lackluster performance in front of their backup and expect to win, which is what often occurred.

besides, i feel like emery got a higher percentage of unsavory matchups for goalies.
- stayinthefnnet

I like you.

Upgrading the defense could raise them above a fringe playoff team.
- MJL

Say Option A costs $1.6M and Option B costs $1M

Now, let's say they each play 20 games.

Option A records a .915 Save%. Option B records a .900 Save%.

Option A
20 games. 30 shots/game = 600 shots * (1-0.915) = 51

Option B
20 games. 30 shots/game = 600 shots * (1-.900) = 60

During those 20 games, Option A will allow about 0.5 less goals per game than Option B.

come on now dont insult yourself. you can have despres for him
- stayinthefnnet

There are people who would do that. Thats the sad part.

Say Option A costs $1.6M and Option B costs $1M

Now, let's say they each play 20 games.

Option A records a .915 Save%. Option B records a .900 Save%.

Option A
20 games. 30 shots/game = 600 shots * (1-0.915) = 51

Option B
20 games. 30 shots/game = 600 shots * (1-.900) = 60

During those 20 games, Option A will allow about 0.5 less goals per game than Option B.
- PhillySportsGuy

Oh my.

Man, I'm about ready to bare-knuckle street-fight anyone who is ready to trade that guy so another team can give him two wingers and watch him be the player he can be
- AllInForFlyers

Hes maxed out his potential. No one gets better after 22.

seriously. if youre going to view a guy as part of this unmovable youth core, which im not saying is correct or not, but that appears to be the stance with him. if thats the case. then you need to put him in the best possible position to succeed.
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly -- while I liked a lot of what Peter Laviolette brought to the Flyers, I totally thought it was a firing offense to play Maxime Talbot and Zac Rinaldo as Sean Couturier's wingers -- and lo and behold, the day after Laviolette played Rinaldo 14 minutes on Couturier's wing, Homer gave him the shiv

Oh my.
- Streit2ThePoint

Too early for math?

If Emery never had any hip issues, I'd be all on board for this.

Back-up goalies are a dime a dozen though. There's good AHL goalies, like Drew MacIntyre for example, who could easily give you 25-30 solid starts that have just never gotten an opportunity to do so.
- mochoson

Look at what Khudobin did when he got the chance on a poor Carolina team.

The hip doesn't concern me that much. He's under 35, so if the hip were to get worse and force him to retire, I believe his entire cap hit would come off the books.
- BiggE

Why would he just retire and walk away from the money? It would actually be another $1.25 million a year on LTIR to go with Pronger. I don't understand why you would even consider a three year deal for a goalie with hips bad enough that they might realistically render him unable to play in the near future.

Say Option A costs $1.6M and Option B costs $1M

Now, let's say they each play 20 games.

Option A records a .915 Save%. Option B records a .900 Save%.

Option A
20 games. 30 shots/game = 600 shots * (1-0.915) = 51

Option B
20 games. 30 shots/game = 600 shots * (1-.900) = 60

During those 20 games, Option A will allow about 0.5 less goals per game than Option B.
- PhillySportsGuy

Exactly -- people think you can't miss the playoffs because of your backup goalie. Sure you can. You absolutely can. Those 8-15 more goals you give up could mean regulation losses instead of wins or OTLs.

It's a fine line to walk. But cheaping out on the backup goaltender can straight-up bite you in the ass

There are people who would do that. Thats the sad part.
- PhillySportsGuy

could you please have their people contact my people? i like where this is headed

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Should Flyers Re-Sign Emery?; Flyers at Worlds and More
- bmeltzer

i like emery, and would be fine with him returning. the only goalies on the UFA list that i have any interest in, who are legitimate options are: greiss, guigere, gustafsson and nabakov (last resort).

Y'know at the end of the day, I really don't want to mess with our Goaltending. It was the one thing that was pretty good all year (obviously it had struggles at times, but they were pretty minor ones) To think that Emery was not a part of that would be incorrect. I'd rather resign Emery and jettison someone named Lecavalier and bring up Laughton.

I like Hexy's talk about growing from within. But I also noticed he did not want to rush anyone. He talked about great Defensemen coming up but wants to resign Kimmo. We got some potential goalies candidates coming in but none are NHL ready yet. We could use Emery as he and Mason have both settled the net.

Which brings up the next point. I know Mason has reestablished his Confidence from his struggles in Columbus but he is just over a year removed from that. I think Emery has been a very positive effect on him and saving a half mil in cap space just does not seem worth potentially messing with Mason's mental state.

In the End Ray earned his Payday and then some last year. If we can get him signed for the same or maybe a little less for 2 years instead of one, I say do it.

Exactly -- while I liked a lot of what Peter Laviolette brought to the Flyers, I totally thought it was a firing offense to play Maxime Talbot and Zac Rinaldo as Sean Couturier's wingers -- and lo and behold, the day after Laviolette played Rinaldo 14 minutes on Couturier's wing, Homer gave him the shiv
- AllInForFlyers

yeah. the pens situation was largely due to just injuries. but it is incredible to see what brandon sutter has become now that he has bennett and stempniak on his wings. not that either of those guys are going to win the rocket anytime soon, but its better than tanner glass and taylor pyatt.

unfortunately all this means is hes going to cost more to keep

Y'know at the end of the day, I really don't want to mess with our Goaltending. It was the one thing that was pretty good all year (obviously it had struggles at times, but they were pretty minor ones) To think that Emery was not a part of that would be incorrect. I'd rather resign Emery and jettison someone named Lecavalier and bring up Laughton.

I like Hexy's talk about growing from within. But I also noticed he did not want to rush anyone. He talked about great Defensemen coming up but wants to resign Kimmo. We got some potential goalies candidates coming in but none are NHL ready yet. We could use Emery as he and Mason have both settled the net.

Which brings up the next point. I know Mason has reestablished his Confidence from his struggles in Columbus but he is just over a year removed from that. I think Emery has been a very positive effect on him and saving a half mil in cap space just does not seem worth potentially messing with Mason's mental state.

In the End Ray earned his Payday and then some last year. If we can get him signed for the same or maybe a little less for 2 years instead of one, I say do it.
- flyler

There's hardly any variance in goaltending from year-to-year. Good plan.