Sparky’s What Ifs — What if Carter Hart’s days are numbered? What if Cal Petersen isn’t the rightful backup to Samuel Ersson? All those questions and more will be answered in this segment of ‘Sparky’s What Ifs.’
The NHL Trade Deadline was expected to be a busy one for Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere, who will have his hands full, selling, looking to acquire assets and now potentially having to go out and buy at the deadline in order to fix a five-hole situation.
With Carter Hart, 25, out indefinitely citing “personal reasons”, the Flyers are left handicapped between the pipes with rookie Swedish goaltender Sam Ersson left leading the way and Cal Petersen being recalled from Lehigh Valley to backup.
Danny Briere and the club trust Ersson tending to the goal, but how long can it last? The Flyers GM said they do not want to overwork the 24-year-old and release as much pressure as possible. To do that, you need a reliable second man to turn to.
“I absolutely believe that,” Briere told the media when asked if Ersson could be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL. “But still don’t want to put too much pressure [on him] early.”
The Flyers have a great surplus of goaltenders, although few are NHL-level ready. Alexei Kolosov will likely come over next season and spend time in the minors. Yegor Zavragin and Carson Bjarnason are both still a few years away. Felix Sandstrom is a Phantom, albeit he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so that is not a fix — Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella will likely not want to deal with Cal Petersen and-or Felix Sandstrom for a good chunk of this season and into the next.
It was never the plan to shop at the deadline, but in order to save grace and not have Ersson/Petersen be your tandem for the foreseeable future, the Flyers will have to fix yet another problem that has come to light this past month.
Here are three possible alternative targets to look into as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches:
John Gibson | $6.4M AAV Until 2026-27 (10-team no-trade list)
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA Today Sports
John Gibson, 30, in his 12th NHL season, may be looking for a change of scenery, having spent his whole career in Anaheim. The Ducks drafted Gibson in 2011 with the 39th overall pick in the second round — Former GM Bob Murray signed him to an 8-year deal at $51,200,000M, carrying a $6.4M AAV.
Teams would look at that hefty price tag and immediately hang up the phone. However, the Flyers are in a rebuild and may be willing to take on a smaller, structured amount of Gibson’s high price tag. Briere has already relieved the Los Angeles Kings of some cap restraints, taking on Cal Petersen at $5,000,000M AAV. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the club do something similar again if they could cut Gibson’s AAV in half to around $3.4M, which may be a huge ask on Anaheim’s part.
A familiar dance partner for Briere, the Anaheim Ducks and GM Pat Verbeek. The two clubs made a blockbuster deal on January 8, involving Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round draft pick for prospect Cutter Gauthier. The Flyers and Ducks have traded off management personnel in the past. In 2023, the Flyers hired Bob Murray, who spent 16 years in the Ducks organization as the club’s General Manager, dating back to 2005-06. Murray, 68, was brought in as a Senior Advisor.
Gibson has not been himself the last three seasons, providing a 3.00 goals-against average over that span and averaging a barely above .900 save percentage. This season, his stats have taken a hit. 9-19-1 record with a 3.09 GAA and a slightly above-water save percentage at .900.
Albeit, the Quacks in front of him have been far from stellar, sitting near the bottom of the National Hockey League and 7th in the Central division, managing only 34 points in 48 contests and a 16-30-2 record. Gibson is not to blame for his poor numbers throughout 2021-2023.
In his career, Gibson has played over 460 games with a below .500 win percentage,189-198-60 record with 24 shutouts, a 2.85 GAA and a .911 Sv%.
Gibson could be a good veteran presence to Ersson, another set of eyes to provide insight and help Ersson be the best goalie he can be moving forward in his career.
Elvis Merzlikins | $5.4M AAV Until 2026-27 (10-team no-trade list)
Photo Credit: Jess Starr-The Hockey Writers
Elvis Merzlikins, 29, the youngest out of the crop, had been a healthy scratch in three straight games and four of the past five, being overlooked behind Daniil Tarasov and Spencer Martin, backing up Tarasov against the Seattle Kraken last Saturday.
Merzlikins told the media last Friday he was not happy being the third goalie. All parties involved agreed a “new scenario” was the best course of action.
Stating his displeasure with the Blue Jackets doesn’t give Columbus a lot of leeway or leverage during trade talks. The Flyers are a perfect candidate for Elvis, trade partners who are familiar with one another, Danny B and Jarmo Kekalainen. The two were in a three-way deal with the Los Angeles Kings over the summer, which saw a handful of assets go all three ways.
Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella was the bench boss in Columbus during Merzlikins rookie season in 2018-19. The go-to, new toy who was reaching for the stars with the Jackets appeared to get along well with Tortorella. Is it time to reconvene in Philadelphia?
Merzlikins starts have been cut significantly over the last two years, playing in 59 games in 2021-22 and only appearing in 30 the following year. This season, he is on pace to surpass last year’s games played, sitting only four away from the marker. In 26 games, he has an 8-10-6 record with a 3.29 GAA and a .903 Sv%.
Prior to when the NHL season paused in March 2020 due to COVID-19, Merzlikins was 13-9-8 with a 2.35 GAA and .923 save percentage in 33 games (31 starts). If he can find that kind of game in a new uniform, that would be great for the Flyers, himself and everyone involved.
With his experience and Ersson in his first full season, the two could really bounce off one another and create a solid tandem in the orange and black.
Jake Allen | $3.85M AAV Until 2024-25 (7 team no-trade. 24-25: 3 team no-trade list)
Photo Credit: Codie McLachlan-Getty Images
The cheapest of the three and probably the most underrated is Jake Allen, 33. He carries a $3.85M cap hit, which seems like a cakewalk compared to the last two, not to mention that his contract realistically is the best-case scenario for the Flyers — signed until after the 2024-25 season. That would give Alexei Kolosov a full year in the minors and allow the club to either move Allen for more assets or let him walk as a 35-year-old UFA in free agency.
Allen was drafted in 2009 by the St. Louis Blues in the second round, 34th overall. He provided seven solid seasons before leaving to the Montreal Canadiens in 2020-21. During his career, Allen’s save percentage has only dipped below .900 once, last season after a tough go between the pipes and morale-wise for the Canadiens.
While his stats have diminished slowly, another change may be a spark to the veterans career. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports the trade market surrounding Allen is heating up considerably. With plenty of teams dealing with poor play, injuries, and unspeakable issues between the pipes, Allen has been an oft-rumoured trade candidate throughout the regular season.
Along with the lower cap hit, Allen possesses similar stats, granted a smaller sample size. Throughout his career, Allen has been a very streaky goaltender, especially on paper. This season is nothing new on a struggling Montreal Canadiens team. Allen’s stats have struggled because of it, as well. In 16 starts, the veteran netminder has a 5-9-2 record with a save percentage just above .900 and a goals-against average sitting at 3.46.
An experienced netminder with a fairly low asking price, respectfully. Ersson could benefit greatly from a goaltender like Allen as a netmate and mentor. The Flyers would have a reliable backup tending to their future No. 1.
Honourable Mentions:
- Dan Vladar $2.2M x 2024-25
- Alex Lyon $9.0K x 2024-25
- Cayden Primeau $8.9K x 2024-25
- Charlie Lindgren $1.1M x 2024-25
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