Everyone take a deep breath. The Trade Deadline has officially come to a close. It’s been a hectic last few days around the NHL. They’ve been filled with trades, rumors, and best of all, anticipation. For Flyers fans, it was a sad day. Long time Flyer Wayne Simmonds was traded to Nashville in exchange for RW Ryan Hartman and a fourth round pick. Simmonds, who was in the middle of his eighth season with the Orange and Black, had been at the center of trade talks for a while now. It was no surprise that he was moved ahead of this afternoons deadline. However, Fletcher was unable to move veteran goaltender Brian Elliott, who after this season is a UFA (unrestricted- free agent).
Despite the rumors that Elliott could have possibly been traded ahead of this afternoons Trade Deadline, no team followed through, leaving the Flyers with three NHL caliber goalies. So what do we make of this situation you ask? Well nothing really to be honest. In all likelihood, the Flyers will run with three goalies throughout the rest of the season.
For now, the likely tandem will be made up of long time NHL veteran Brian Elliott who is in the middle of his 2nd season with the Orange and Black and newly acquired goalie Cam Talbot. That is until Carter Hart Makes his return. That’s the one positive of Elliott remaining with the Flyers.
If Elliott had been traded, the Flyers would have had no choice but to likely call up Mike McKenna from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. At least with “Moose”, the Flyers will have two proven NHL goalies on there roster while Hart recovers from what is believed to be a high ankle sprain.
The downside of this is that the Flyers weren’t able to to get anything for Brian Elliott. He will almost certainly walk in the off-season, as there is little reason for the Flyers to resign the 33-year-old goaltender.
Once Carter Hart is healthy and able to return to game action, it’s likely that Elliott will be made a healthy scratch and spend most games in a suit and tie watching the game from the press box. That leaves the Flyers with a tandem of Carter Hart and Cam Talbot; a tandem that may very well be intact for the next few years assuming the Flyers resign Talbot in the offseason.
The Flyers acquired Talbot for a reason. It wouldn’t have made sense to trade for Talbot if he was never going to play. Having Brian Elliott remain the backup once Hart returns makes no sense.
Either way Brian Elliott is still a Flyer whether you like it or not and will be for the rest of the season. The question is how will the Flyers use him in this situation? That part remains unknown.
The Flyers return to action tomorrow night as they take on the Buffalo Sabres in what will be a crucial game for both teams. Both the Flyers and Sabres are spereated by only one point in the standings. Puck Drop is at 7PM.
As always, Lets Go Flyers!
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
