It’s not the Philadelphia Flyers without the position of goaltending being a flaming pile. After a second consecutive season where the tandem of Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov posted the league-worst save percentage and their knight in shining armor Aleksei Kolosov was an unmitigated disaster, the Flyers desperately need to fix their goaltending. The problem? The 2025 offseason has been dry as a bone when it comes to finding a real addition.
So let’s go through and pick out some names the Flyers should be considering as upgrades either through trade or signing as free agency breaks on the horizon.
Number 5: Jake Allen
The soon-to-be 35-year-old is the top available goalie in the free agent market, which speaks to how weak the market really is this summer. He was actually a relatively serviceable option for the Devils last year, rocking a 2.66 goals against average and .908 save percentage in 31 appearances.
He’s getting older, has only played 40 or more games five times in a 13-year career and will probably be on the receiving end of a bidding war in the free agent market from playoff teams that need a goalie. Recent rumors have him pegged at about $5 mil a season.
Is he a better option than Fedotov? Yes.
Is it the time to go hog wild on Allen? No.
Number 4: Thatcher Demko
In terms of potential upside, 29-year-old Thatcher Demko is your guy. In terms of risk when it comes to injury, he’s also the notable standout. He was the runner up for the Vezina in 2024, then played only 23 games in 2024-25 due to multiple injuries. He’s only started more than 35 games twice in six seasons.
If the Flyers can acquire him for next to nothing like they just did with Zegras, it could be a risk worth taking, but paying top dollar for someone to sit in the press box injured all season while the goalie position is worse than it already was would be… well… not great.
Number 3: Ilya Samsonov
The 28-year-old Samsonov has is the other notable free agent option. He’s had flashes of success with the Maple Leafs and Capitals in his career, but has also been just a guy at other points. He spent the 2024-25 season with the Golden Knights posting a 2.82 GAA and .891 SV% in 29 appearances.
If they want to go in on someone (probably) cheaper but definitely younger than Jake Allen, Samsonov is probably their guy. Is he the bonafide improvement that they need? Eh… maybe?
Number 2: Arturs Silovs
The idea right now seems to be that if the Canucks keep Demko, they’ll consider dealing the 24-year-old Silovs. He had one of the most impressive AHL playoff runs of all time, posting a 2.01 GAA, .931 SV%, five shutouts, and a whopping 672 saves in 24 playoff games, winning the Calder Cup and the Playoffs MVP.
He has 19 NHL games under his belt with a 3.13 GAA and .880 SV%, so that kind of amazing production doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, but given the other options around the league, Silovs may be one of the more intriguing players to take a swing on.
Number 1: Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen
Luukkonen’s name was on the trade scene early in the summer, but has since died down quite a bit. Though the Sabres seem to be listening to just about everyone on their roster (and selling a bit low when they do move someone.) If we believe the Buffalo curse is real (that every player that leaves is substantially better than they were in Buffalo), than the 26-year-old may be the best investment the Flyers could make this summer, and the remaining four years at $4.75 million aav left on his contract would turn into a pleasant surprise.
Honorable mention
Elvis Merzlikins
Columbus Blue Jacket Elvis Merzlikins has been an on-again-off-again name in the trade rumor mill the last couple seasons. The 31-year-old has two years left on his current contract with a $5.4 million aav. This one seems far more unlikely now considering the team just sent his competition Danill Tarasov to Florida, but if they’re looking to deal the veteran Merzlikins, the Flyers should still be sniffing around.
Kaapo Kahkonen
Kahkonen had an impressive season in the AHL this year, so if the Flyers do just run back Ersson and Fedotov, signing the 29-year-old to tandem with Bjarnason in the AHL as the third string option isn’t the worst option they could make. He’d definitely be an improvement over Cal Petersen in the same role.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: nhl.com
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