Philadelphia Flyers Free Agency: Back-Up Goalie

There is no doubt that Steve Mason will be the starting goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers next season. However, there is some uncertainty in who will be serving as his back-up. With both Ray Emery and Rob Zepp set to become free agents this offseason, Ron Hextall must make sure he signs a reliable net-minder to fill in for Mason when he needs a break or suffers an injury.

In regards to acquiring a solid back-up goalie, one option the Flyers have is to stick with what they know. There is no question that Philadelphia will be able to re-sign either Rob Zepp or Ray Emery to a contract for next season. The question is, would they want to go that route?

At 33-years-old, Rob Zepp finally got his opportunity to tend goal in the NHL. To the surprise of many, he did a pretty solid job. In the 9 games Zepp started for the Flyers, he acquired a 5 wins and 2 losses. In addition, he sported a .888 save-percentage and a 2.89 goals-against-average. With a shaky defense in front of him, Zepp was still able to shut down the opposing team’s offense, and give the Flyers an opportunity to win. Although he only saw action in 10 games this season, Rob Zepp was a reliable option at goaltender for the Flyers this season.

In the start of the 2014-2015 season, Ray Emery was playing at such a high level that many people were wondering if he should be the Flyers number-one option in goal. Then reality set in, Emery returned to mediocrity and Steven Mason demonstrated brilliance. In 31 games this season, Ray Emery recorded 10 wins, 11 losses, and 7 overtime losses. His save-percentage of .894 was slightly better than Robb Zepp’s; but this is most likely due to the fact that Emery saw 535 more shots than Zepp. This season, Number 29 of the orange and black had a goals-against-average of 3.06, which is truly nothing to brag about at all.

If the Flyers decide to re-sign one of these two gentlemen this offseason, one can imagine they would choose to bring back Zepp, and let Ray Emery find work elsewhere.

Dec 27, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery (29) attempts to make a save against Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher (12) during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Another option the Flyers have when searching for their next back-up goaltender is trying something new. There are a few free agent goalies out there that could spark the attention of the orange and black.

Current back-up of the New York Islanders, Michal Neuvirth, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. In his 7 years in the NHL, Neuvirth has proven to be a reliable option in net. He has acquired 66 wins, 63 losses, and 17 overtime losses in 168 games. Neuvirth’s save-percentage of .912 and goals-against-average of 2.73 are both impressive numbers. If the Flyers were able to provide him with some support on offense, there would be little to no risk having Neuvirth man the goal on occasion.

Another goalie set to hit the open market is 28-year-old Karri Ramo. In his 33 games played for the Calgary Flames this season, Ramo sported a 15-9-3 record. In addition, he had a save-percentage of .912 and a goals-against-average of 2.60. Karri Ramo’s numbers with the Calgary Flames over the past two seasons have been both consistent and solid. Although the beginning of his NHL career was quite shaky, Ramo has developed into a reliable back-up.

There is always a feeling of uncertainty and risk that comes with signing a goalie. Just because a guy a was hot one year, does not mean he will be just as hot the next. For the Philadelphia Flyers, it might be best if they just stick with what they know and re-sign Rob Zepp this offseason. Ron Hextall has been able to observe Zepp’s performance throughout the season, and is aware of his abilities. The same cannot be said for any other free agent out there, which poses a greater risk.

Although the Flyers will do their due diligence and explore all of their options, it is more likely than not that Rob Zepp will be serving as Steve Mason’s back-up at the start of next season.

Jan 12, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Rob Zepp (72) and defenseman Mark Streit (32) celebrate the win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Lightning, 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports