The Philadelphia Flyers have largely overcome Samuel Ersson’s struggles this year, and despite earlier claims made this season that they believed in his bounce back capabilities, it’s starting to sound like the tune is changing, at least according to DFO’s Anthony Di Marco.
The NHL insider reported that the Flyers are finally considering alternative options to replace the 26-year-old goaltender, which comes off the heels of one of his worst performances to date, when he allowed 7 goals to the Tampa Bay Lightning on 23 shots.
While Aleksei Kolosov is an internal option they could consider, Di Marco intimates that the Flyers don’t want to ruin his run with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and want to keep him down there until further notice.
The Belarusian goaltender has posted a 9-9-1 record through 19 games with a .908 SV% and a 2.54 GAA. He recently honoured as the AHL’s Player of the Week ending January 4th for his efforts, but as Di Marco’s source mentions, they don’t want to mess with a good thing right now.
So, if the Flyers aren’t looking internally for upgrades, then their next best bet is to peruse the trade market, which could have them looking at the Buffalo Sabres. who have operated with a 3-goalie tandem this year – when healthy – with Alex Lyon, Colten Ellis, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Luukkonen just recently signed a long extension, so he can be counted out, but Di Marco asked his source if the Flyers would be interested in Ellis or Lyon, to which they said they hold little interest in the former but could be open to the idea of the latter due to his experience.
Lyon was signed out of Yale by Ron Hextall in 2016 and broke out with the Flyers organization. He had spent 5 years in the system, where he had primarily spent his time with the Phantoms, but did appear in 22 games for the Flyers across 4 seasons.
Upon his departure from the organization in 2021, he backstopped the Chicago Wolves to a Calder Cup in 2022 before becoming a reliable tandem partner in the NHL with the Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, and now the Sabres. He signed a 2-year contract this past summer worth $3 million total and could be a short-term solution for the Flyers.
The source also indicated that the price would have to be right and that they would more than likely not want to spent more than a third round pick for the veteran. On the season, Lyon has posted a 10-6-3 record with a .906 SV% and a 2.82 GAA, but is currently on IR and hasn’t suited up since the 29th of December.
Before the injury, he had rattled off 7 straight victories with a .919 SV% and a 2.10 GAA. Since leaving the Flyers, Lyon has posted a .904 SV% and a 2.92 GAA over 112 games, which at this point would be welcoming numbers with Ersson having stumbled to a .877 SV% over the last 1.5 seasons.
Ersson is set for restricted free agency at the end of the year, and was almost a shoo-in for an extension due to his age, prior experience with the club, and more than likely low AAV. However, his recent play has suffered to the point where the club is losing confidence in his abilities.
Over his last 7 games, the Swedish netminder has posted a 1-4-2 record with a .844 SV% and a 3.90 GAA. His lone victory came against Chicago, meaning in the other 6 games, he’s allowed 26 goals on 152 shots, for an unflattering .828 SV%.
With Lyon under contract for another year, he could serve as a bridge for the Flyers until they feel Kolosov – or maybe even Carson Bjarnason – is ready to take the leap from the minors to the NHL. Both he and Dan Vladař would be free agents at the end of the 2026-27 season, leaving the club with an open canvas in goal, and a better idea of who to keep, who to let walk, and who to bring up from the minors.
For the first time in years, the Flyers are reportedly losing trust in Ersson, and with where they’re situated in the standings, they feel like they can’t risk it anymore and are on the market for a replacement-level goalie.
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