I think the title is self-explanatory. Honestly, this post isn't going to be about what should have been or what I wished had happened (Nabokov starting, Leighton backup, Boucher in AHL, keep Gagne and no Mesz)
But, alas, I am not going to complain about things I have no control over, rather, I am going to look at the cards dealt to the Flyers, and attempt to discuss what will happen with these guys next year. Hopefully the 2010-2011 campaign is not DiPietro-esque. Here we go...
(All stats/info from here)
Name: Johan Backlund
Jersey: #30
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 198lbs
Catches: Left
Forecast: Insert first callup title here when Boucher sucks again, also, he should be the 2011-2012 backup
Name: Sergei Bobrovsky
Jersey: #35
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 190lbs
Forecast: The Bob plays up the AHL, and realizes that, in Soviet Russia hockey money comes tax free!!!! This leads to him bolting back to the KHL's version of the Edmonton Oilers and never being heard from again.
Name: Brian Boucher
Jersey: #33
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200lbs
Forecast: Brian goes to the Phantoms, then is promptly traded to Chicago when Niemi wins a $4 millon arbitration case prompting the 'Hawks need to have a goalie who's cap friendly. Boucher then goes out and makes Vesa Toskala look like a reincarnated Georges Vezina
Name:Joacim Eriksson
Jersey: N/A
Height:6' 1"
Weight: 189 lbs
Forecast: Eriksson makes the jump like Backlund, eventually gets a call up because Leighton's late to the puck and Backlund's pulling pucks out of the back of the net too often. Flyers fans promptly cry for Marty Turco to save us.
Name: Jakub Kovar
Jersey: N/A
Height: 6' 0"
Weight 176 lbs
Forecast: His continued inability to win a starting job in the KHL causes him to replace Andrew Raycroft as biggest bust in the goaltending market. By using words like "hype" and "improved version of Toskala" the Flyers are able to send Kovar, Shelley and Meszaros to the Calgary Flames for Miika Kipprusoff at the trade deadline.
Name: Michael Leighton
Jersey: #49
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 186
Forecast: Holds down the starter's role until relief in the form of a real NHL starter shows up, becomes solid backup. Cries when Flyers hoist 2011 Stanley Cup. Becomes responsible for big IN YOUR F-ING FACE MOMENT when he calmly stops a Gagne wrist shot, Vinny rebound and Stamkos wrap-around during game 7 of the EC finals against the Bolts, hilarity ensues with Andrej Meszaros then fires a 197 foot foot clear that Toskala's Dan Ellis at the other end, Flyers go onto the Finals.
Name: Adam Morrison
Jersey: #73
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 166 lbs
Forecast: Plays well enough to stay in the AHL because he doesn't ever want to end up back in Edmonton for the rest of his life.
Name:Brad Phillips
Jersey: #75
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 163
Forecast: He's gonna be the 2010-11 version of Jeremy Duchesne, thrust into a spotlight for no real reason other than to entertain me...
Nic Riopel
Jersey: #35 (yes 2 35s on the Flyers so far...but he should switch to his #29 in camp)
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 172
Forecast: Will be the #3 guy in the AHL behind Backlund and Bobrovsky, could be traded for other prospects, like depth Defenseman that do NOT cost $4 million....
Name:Brian Stewart
Jersey: #67
Height:6' 4"
Weight: 195
Forecast: Will probably not get a look out of training camp, for this guy to see NHL time, the other goalies would need to have no limbs, heads or heartbeats.
I've reread this post now quite a few times, and I find myself very, uncomfortable with the Flyers 2010-11 goalie situation. And we don't have ToskaLOL or Raycroft
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