Who replaces Ilya Bryzgalov in the Flyers' net is a bit muddled right now, especially given that the Flyers recently lost out on the Jonathan Bernier sweepstakes.
The former Kings goalie was traded to Toronto on Sunday.
That the Flyers were in fact pursuing Bernier tells you they were going to make it a competition for the No. 1 job next season -- if they got him.
Who comes next may result in Steve Mason being forced into the top role regardless. Or maybe not.
With Bryzgalov’s buyout, the Flyers now have an extra $5.67 million off the salary cap to find a far less expensive veteran free agent goalie.
Or they can pursue a trade with someone else, even though their options aren’t easy should they choose that route.
The obvious free agent candidates are Jose Theodore (who is 36); Ray Emery (30), whom the Flyers are fond of because of how well he played here before; and Tim Thomas (39), who -- despite his political outspokenness -- is viewed by the Flyers in a favorable light.
Thomas was a huge reason the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011. Emery was not a huge factor in Chicago winning the Cup this year.
“I have ideas what I want to do,” general manager Paul Holmgren said during a new conference at Flyers Skate Zone.
“It’s going to be a crazy ride here in the next [several days] and first five days in July. We know we have needs. We have to work out how we can fill those needs.”
Holmgren quickly shot down suggestions about 34-year-old Roberto Luongo, citing complications.
If Vancouver buys Luongo out, however, then the Flyers have a shot at him in free agency. But the problem is Holmgren may not want to wait until July 5 to do that if something else presents itself right now.
Recall, Holmgren likes to make deals in advance of the NHL draft to corner the market, so to speak, without competition.
“I don’t see how that would work,” he said of Luongo. “Probably not an option. That’s not one of my ideas.”
What if Luongo is bought out?
“Who knows?" Holmgren replied. "I can’t speculate on other teams’ business.”
Here’s one possibility, in theory: Anaheim is still looking to move Bobby Ryan. The Flyers are still in the poker game there. Maybe the Ducks expand a trade to include Jonas Hiller.
It’s still more likely the Flyers go the free agent route.
Among all free agents, Phoenix’s Mike Smith, 31, is the most attractive free agent option, but it’s unlikely he will leave the Coyotes.
Smith is very close to Phoenix’s goalie coach guru, Sean Burke. Burke has children in college in Arizona and is not leaving the area. Smith wants to stay with Burke.
What remains to be seen is whether the Flyers really believe Bryzgalov’s backup, Mason, is ready to be a No. 1.
As good as Mason looked in seven games last season here, it would be a mistake to assume he’s ready to carry the mantle right now.
“I’m a big Steve Mason fan,” Holmgren said. “Moving forward, he is a very good young goalie in our league for his age, has a lot of experience. It was a short window watching him here, but he played well, even in the games he lost. Ideally, I’d like to get a guy who will work in tandem with him with the bulk going to Steve.”
Does he trust Mason as a No. 1?
“I trust him as one of the two goalies,” Holmgren replied.
Though there is no mistaking Bryzgalov’s personality and antics rubbed many -- but not all -- players the wrong way, Holmgren kept stressing Tuesday that this was a business decision and that the team needed money to get Claude Giroux re-signed long-term next season.
Giroux is expected to command as high as an $8 million salary cap hit.
“It was a very difficult business decision to make. But moving forward, it makes the most sense for us to start looking down the road and trying to keep other players in the fold, like Claude Giroux,” Holmgren said.
Holmgren would like Giroux signed this summer. Talks with agent Pat Brisson have already begun.
“We’ve had conversations,” Holmgren said. “We know where Claude stands on our team. His agent and I know where he stands in the league. It’s important for us to get Claude locked up in the very near future.”
Brisson said Tuesday night the two sides are still talking. Holmgren would like Giroux signed before free agency opens on July 5.
Brisson said he was “hopeful” a deal could be struck by then as well.