According to Elliotte Friedman, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed free agent goaltender Martin Jones to a one-year deal that was later clarified to be worth around $2M. Here is all you need to know.
Brian Elliott departed the Flyers today, signing a one-year deal worth $900K in Tampa Bay. The Flyers had to act fast to ensure they have an insurance policy for Carter Hart in place, and one with plenty of starting experience.
Jones joins the team fresh off of a disappointing end to what was an otherwise impressive career with the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old wasn’t just entrenched as a well-paid starter following a stunning 2015-2016 playoff run, but the team essentially put all of their eggs in one basket.
Whether it was down to fatigue, minor injuries, getting older, or a combination of all of them, his efficiency declined massively over the past three years or so. He played in 60+ games for four years in a row (for context, Carter Hart played in 43 in 2019-20) before dipping to 41 games in 2019 and 34 in 2020.
He’s allowed at least 3 goals per game in both of the last two seasons, amassing a lowly .896 save percentage in each of his last three. This isn’t great. Carter Hart’s torrid 2020 campaign was comprised of a .877% and 3.67 goals allowed per game. If the Flyers are banking on Hart bouncing back, an insurance policy who is comparable to the youngster’s floor probably isn’t ideal if the team want to take a leap forward next year.
It’s likely that the Flyers are hoping Hart will respond in a big way and that they can ease Alex Lyon into an increased role. He looked promising towards the end of last season and if he can continue his development, it means that the signing of Jones is more of a Lyon insurance policy than a backup for Carter Hart.
Jones will probably have the backup role cemented upon arrival and if he’s unable to perform better without the wear and tear he was experiencing in San Jose, then there will be a roaring Lion ready to ascend up the depth chart.
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