THE Philadelphia flyers“The decision to exchange Ivan Fedoto to the Blue Jackets of Columbus for a sixth round choice in 2026 Sunday gave clarity in a position that was anything but simple in Philadelphia.
The depth table of goalkeepers is now a little more rationalized, but it always leaves questions about the question of whether the flyers will remain engaged in this structure and the players currently.
The tandem in the NHL: Ersson and Vladar
The most likely result is that Sam Ersson And Dan Vladar divided the fold at the NHL. (And no, Fedotov’s trade does not do Open considerations so that flyers can find Carter Hart. Each credible report that has come out clearly suggests that Hart Don’t go be Sign in Philadelphia.)
Ersson, 25, already has the reputation of calm and reliableEven if his figures were not where he said he wanted them to be. He provided a large majority of the start -up responsibilities, often while the team before him was incoherent and did not have a coherent backup to remove part of this charge (whether because of coaching decisions or the lack of talents available).
Vladar, 28, acquired from Calgary this summer, represents a different profile. At 6 feet 5 inches, it brings the NHL size and experience, but also bears the need for reset after unequal years with flames.
If the leaflets are disciplined, this tandem can work well. Ersson can have a more manageable workload and have space to evolve properly, while Vladar has the possibility of recovering without the pressure of being a real n ° 1.
What cannot happen, however, is the start -up pace of a three -way system that tormented last year. The guards need continuity, and Ersson and Vladar deserve the opportunity to build it.
The Joker: another system of three goals?
Even with Fedotov left, it is not out of the question that the flyers experience another configuration of three goals. Wounds, renunciation considerations and management’s desire to keep as many options as possible sometimes push the teams in this direction.
But if last season proved something, it is because such an approach has a cost.
The transport of three goalkeepers can look like a depth, but that often only translates any of them finding a rhythm. Ersson, Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov have all experienced sections where they sat too long between departures or were thrown into games without constant preparation. This created uncertainty for coaches staff and players’ frustration. If the leaflets want progress, they will have to avoid repeating this cycle.
Tandem Ahl: Bjarnason and Kolosov
In Lehigh Valley, emphasis is from development to development. Carson BjarnasonThe transition to professional game will be closely monitored. The 20-year-old impressed his composure, and this mental stability will serve him well in the AHL. The priority for him is not only victories and losses, but learning rhythm, trafficking and the version of professional hockey.
Aleksei Kolosov is entering his second year in North America with his own ambitions. Athletic and aggressive by nature, he clearly indicated that he wanted to be a NHL goalkeeper, but the reality is that he still has to refine his game to the smallest skating rink and to the faster decision of the AHL.
Balancing Bjarnason’s need for major representatives with Kolosov’s entirely precarious situation will be one of the biggest tasks of Phantoms this season.
The prospects
Trading Fedotov simplifies the image of the flyers’ guards, who too often presented colors of confrontation, disorderly brushstrokes and intense criticism of museum lovers.
Ersson and Vladar deserve to obtain the coherence they need at the NHL level, while Bjarnason and Kolosov save significant minutes to develop in the AHL. Whether the leaflets stick to this structure or the experimentation with another three -goals system are worth observed, but for the moment, the organization seems to take measures to a clearer framework.
It is not a flashy configuration, and it does not come with guarantees. But compared to the uncertainty that has long defined the fold of Philadelphia, a season of clarity could be exactly what leaflets need.
