The Philadelphia Flyers
fired general manager Ron Hextall
on Monday and I am curious to see what they do now. They also may make a
coaching change
, but that isn't the big issue right now.
Goaltending continues to be their issue. They have started five goalies this season and none have performed well. Brian Elliott leads them with 13 starts but he's week to week with a lower-body injury. Michal Neuvirth, the expected backup, has played one game because of a lower-body injury sustained during training camp. Calvin Pickard got his chance but was placed on waivers Wednesday and claimed by the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. That leaves Anthony Stolarz, who started his first game in two seasons against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, and likely
Alex Lyon
, who played one game before being sent to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Monday. Stolarz and Lyon have played a combined three games this season 21 total in the NHL.
Philadelphia plays the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, ATTSN-PT, NBCSP, NHL.TV).
They have prospect
Carter Hart
, 20, in the AHL but he's in his first professional season; they could use an experienced, proven goalie to help them now. Never mind the injury concerns with what they already have; when healthy Elliott and Neuvirth each has been inconsistent. Goalie arguably is the most important position in the game, and until the Flyers fix that, they likely won't be contenders.