Rick Tocchet sends strict message to the players before Game 1. Is it the right move?
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Ilya Bryzgalov… Brian Elliott… Steve Mason… Carter Hart… Samuel Ersson… the short list of Philadelphia Flyers opening night starters in net over the past 15 seasons.
Goaltending has been the one thing the Flyers have struggled to find since the days of Ron Hextall in the 1990s. But, the one constant has been having a set starter in the lead up to the season.
Since the departure of Carter Hart, Samuel Ersson has started 75 of 118 games, including being named the starter before his first career opening night start last season.
But, as the Flyers begin a new season tonight in Florida, it will not be Ersson in the net.
Instead, new head coach Rick Tocchet will go a different route. It will be offseason signee Dan Vladar in the net tonight in the season opener.
“Well, Sam could have played. It’s just that you have to pick a goalie. So we decided to go Vladar, and then we’ll go from there,” Tocchet told reporters this morning on the reason why Vladar will start.
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In the lead up to the season, Ersson’s name has been a topic of discussion in the Flyers circles.
After a disappointing season last year, the Flyers entered the offseason knowing they needed a more stable presence behind him. The tandem of Aleksei Kolosov and Ivan Fedotov did more hurt than help last year.
“I expect the goaltending to be better, no doubt about it,” Briere told reporters on the overall goaltending as a whole before the season. “I think Vladar will come in and probably be a little bit more support for Sam.”
GM Danny Briere hasn’t necessarily been willing to mark Ersson as the Flyers true #1 starter. But, he also hasn’t said much to think otherwise after backing him the past two seasons.
“We do believe in Sam still. He has shown some flashes,” Briere added when discussing the goal-tending. “I think with Sam, having a guy there to protect him and not expecting him to play three games a week should probably help Sam in the long run, that’s my feeling.”
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One of Ersson’s biggest backers is President Keith Jones.
“I’m a big believer in Sam Ersson,” Jones told reporters a week before training camp. “I think that Sam is in a position now age-wise and being pushed by the depth at that position now, that it’s going to benefit him.”
He did add, “I think that Sam is going to stand up to the test here this year.”
That test is now elevated with Vladar earning the opening night start over Ersson. However, it is the messaging needed if this Flyers team is going to take the next step.
Rick Tocchet is making it very clear – even before the season starts – that everything is earned going forward, not given.
PHOTO CREDIT: Fred Kfoury III – Icon Sportswire
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