"Razor" Ray Emery is back with the Flyers and doesn't know how long he'll be here.
"I have no idea about that kind of stuff," Emery said Wednesday after participating in the Flyers' morning skate prior to their game against the Washington Capitals (see story).
Emery re-joined the Flyers on Tuesday on a professional tryout as an insurance policy and for depth, as Phantoms goalie Jason LaBarbera is out for the season because of an injury.
The tryout allows Emery to participate in practice and meetings but doesn't allow him to dress or play in a game — he would have to sign a contract. If the Flyers like what they see, they can sign him, but he would be ineligible for the playoffs (more on Emery here).
General manager Ron Hextall said Tuesday Emery would remain with the Flyers if they decide to sign him to a contract but as the No. 3 goalie. Anthony Stolarz remains the backup.
With LaBarbera and Michal Neuvirth injured, Steve Mason and Stolarz are the only two goalies in the Flyers' system on NHL contracts. Emery said the Flyers called to ask if he was still in shape and if he'd be interested in a tryout, which he accepted.
"Of course that was a great idea for me," Emery said.
NHL
It's been a challenging year for the 33-year-old. He began the season in training camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a professional tryout contract but didn't make the team. In December, he signed a tryout with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. Toronto released him Feb. 4. Emery's next step was a stint with Adler Mannheim of the German elite league, Deutsche Eishockey Liga. And now this.
"It's been tough," Emery said. "I went to Tampa's camp and got released from there. I was just kind of waiting to see if something popped up in the NHL. In the meantime, I missed the boat on the European things and stuff like that. I ended up bouncing around.
"I love the game and I still want to play, so I stuck with it and want to play next year, maybe go to Europe. It makes you realize how special your time is in this league, but at the same time, I love the game more than anything. I want to keep playing."
Should Emery get a contract, it would be his third official stint with the team. He signed as the starter in 2009-10 but suffered a career-threatening hip injury. He came back to the Flyers in 2013-14 after winning a Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks and served as Mason's backup through last season. Did the familiarity make a tryout attractive?
"Definitely," Emery said. "I think for the team as well, you know what I mean?"
And for the Flyers, they're happy to see him back.
"I think it's great to have him back here," Mason said. "Ray's one of the most well-liked guys in the locker room, so it's nice to have a friendly face back here."
"It's great to see him," right winger Jake Voracek said. "Ray-Ray's such a good guy, great guy in the locker room. We shared a couple laughs this morning. Obviously, he's experienced, he's been around. He won a Stanley Cup. He went to the Cup Final with Ottawa. He's been there. He knows what it takes to win. It's good to see him."
In the 2009-10 season — his first stint with the orange and black — Emery was diagnosed with avascular necrosis in his right hip. Many believed his playing career was over, but the goalie worked hard to get back. An 11-year veteran, Emery is a good player to have around. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford recently credited Emery for making him work harder. His experiences is something he hopes helps this current Flyers team.
"When I saw guys doing a little extra to continue playing the game," Emery said, "I took notice of it. After I fell into that category, you realize that it comes a time when it's a lot of effort. You guys saw Jags (Jaromir Jagr) when he was here, you see what he does.
"He comes in after, he does two-a-days a lot of days and a lot of work on his own. It takes some dedication and you see what some guys do to stay in the game."
Plus with seven games left, Emery gets to check out a heated playoff chase from up close.
At least during practices … for now.
"I'm happy to be here," Emery said. "It's an exciting part of the year, too. Get to watch a playoff race and maybe even be a part of it, too. That's always a bonus."