Transaction Analysis: Flyers Show Confidence in Ersson's Future

When the new deal starts, his AAV will increase from an $859,167 cap hit on a two-way contract ($70,000 in the AHL) to a $1.45 million cap hit on a one-way deal. Proactively locking in Ersson now is a clear vote of confidence in the player.

In the immediate future, Ersson will compete for the backup goaltender role and a 2023-24 opening night NHL roster spot against veteran Cal Petersen (acquired this offseason as part of the Ivan Provorov trade) as well as Felix Sandström. Dependent on a forthcoming International Ice Hockey Federation ruling on a tolled 2022-23 NHL contract carrying over to the forthcoming year, Ivan Fedotov may also be in the mix come Flyers training camp.

in 2022-23, Ersson had a rock solid run in Lehigh Valley until seemingly running low on energy in the final week of the season. Between the AHL and NHL levels this past season, Ersson played 3,157 minutes in goal. That was 600-plus more minutes than he'd ever played previously in his professional career while in Sweden. Ersson missed most of the 2021-22 season due to lower-body issues that required surgery. He bounced back in very strong fashion at both the NHL and NHL levels.

Overall, while playing for the Phantoms, Ersson ended up with a 24-17-1 record, 2.84 GAA and even .900 save percentage (his SV% took a beating in the final week, as he allowed 15 goals in the final three games). For the Flyers, Ersson posted a 6-3-0 record, 3.07 GAA and .899 save percentage in a dozen outings.

Ersson played very well in Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-three first round series between the Phantoms and Charlotte Checkers. Game 2 went to the final minute of double-overtime before the Checkers forced a deciding third game after following up on an initial 10-bell save by Ersson. Game 3 was played the next evening and, unfortunately, Ersson and the Phantoms' playoff run came to an end.