ERSSON TURNING HEADS, DECISIONS LOOM ON DEFENCE

MONTREAL, QC — The “rebuilding” Philadelphia Flyers continue to be one of the NHL’s best stories this season, and with the holiday roster freeze taking effect tonight, they are beginning to prove that their start was no fluke.

As of Tuesday morning, ahead of their game with the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers sit second in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 17-10-3 and 37 points. Winners of seven of their last 10 and coming away with a point in all but one game over that stretch, the Flyers have maintained a high level of play just about a third of the way through the season.

There have been many contributing factors to the team’s success, including the club’s goaltending. But unlike at the beginning of the season when it was the Carter Hart show – and it should be noted that he has continued his high level of play to date – Samuel Ersson has announced his presence.

Ersson, 24, has begun to turn his game around after a rocky start to the season. Winners of his last two games – he has started the last three due to Hart battling an illness – Ersson pitched a shutout against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

The 2018 fifth-round selection has had the eyes of Flyers’ management for a while, which is why he was rewarded with a two-year, $2.9 million contract extension last summer by General Manager Daniel Briere. The contract will keep Ersson under the Flyers’ control until 2026, locking up a key piece to the club’s overall bright outlook at the goaltending position. Despite it being a small sample size, more than one person close to the team has said that there could be something there with Ersson in terms of becoming a long-term starter in this league.

Ersson’s recent play has not only impressed the Flyers’ brass, but it sounds like he is turning heads league wide. As reported by the Snow the Goalie podcast, Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek was in attendance for the Flyers game last Thursday against the Washington Capitals. While Verbeek’s attendance was mainly to do due diligence ahead of the holiday break, I have heard some whispers that Ersson caught his eye.

There have been no trade talks between the Ducks and Flyers, so it’s important to keep that in mind, but it is interesting that Verbeek had a close watch on Ersson while taking in last week’s game. As TFP’s David Pagnotta has reported on for over a year, goaltender John Gibson’s future is very much in limbo long term in Anaheim. Could Verbeek already be scouting options for a succession plan?

Even if the Ducks (or any team) decide to reach out on Ersson, it’ll be a tall task to pry him out of Philadelphia.

The Flyers have finally built very strong depth in net and are in no rush to remove a massive piece of that – especially with how the team is playing. Ersson’s AAV is also very team friendly and provides great cost certainty, especially when you consider Hart needing a new deal at season’s end.

And before you ask, there has yet to be any contract talks between the Flyers and Hart’s camp.

Trading Ersson isn’t something I see being in the cards, but teams have clearly taken notice of the goaltender’s play. And with how the Flyers are playing, they’ll be once again in a position of power in trade negotiations and are in no hurry to break up a winning formula.

Defensive Decisions Loom

As I reported two weeks ago and was mentioned by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes on Monday, defenceman Sean Walker has enjoyed his time in Philadelphia and is hoping to stay. The Flyers are looking into re-signing him, though there has yet to be any contract talks between both sides.

Teams have continued to call on Walker, but the Flyers have yet to be presented with a deal that is worth pulling the trigger on. With Chris Tanev of the Calgary Flames being the top ranked right shot rental defenceman currently on the market, that domino may need to fall before teams pony up their best offer for Walker. According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN, the Flames are looking for a first-round selection for Tanev. During a radio hit on TSN 1050’s Overdrive last week, LeBrun said he believes a deal would’ve already been done between the Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs had the latter been willing to pay a first-round selection.

Tanev’s eventual return will directly impact Walker’s value on the trade scene, as he will become the Plan B for teams who strike out on the former. But Walker moving on will not be entirely dependent on what teams are willing to pay, but also if the Flyers can re-sign him at the right price. Speculating on what a contract may look like is still premature, but should the Flyers and Walker agree on a price they’re comfortable with, it may take a King’s Ransom to pry him out of Philadelphia.

Then comes fellow defenceman Nick Seeler, whose name has also been the subject of trade talks going back to last February. Re-signing Seeler isn’t completely out of the question, especially with the way the team is playing. But, speculatively speaking, I get the sense the team may be more comfortable trading Seeler than Walker.

All Things on the Table

I would’ve never have thought to peg the Flyers as a “buyer” this season, but things have clearly changed quickly. While nothing is set in stone, I’ve heard that, assuming the team continues this level of play into February, the team could look to make additions.

The Flyers will not be in the market for rental players and will do nothing to sacrifice their future. But if the opportunity presents itself to add a young player to their core, preferably with term, it will be something that’ll be considered if the team is still in the thick of the playoff race.

In terms of what the team will give up, the high draft picks the team possesses (most notably their two first-round selections) will not be on the table, I’m told. This won’t be a situation of the team going big game hunting, but if there is a deal that makes sense and doesn’t mortgage the future, an addition ahead of the March 8th trade deadline could be considered.