Flyers GM Ron Hextall will take the wait-and-see approach with his goaltending. Both Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth are pending unrestricted free agents, and Hextall can’t say for sure what’s going to happen as their contracts get closer to expiration.
“Maybe we sign them both,” he said, per the Courier-Post. “I can’t predict. They’re both very good goalies. They both proved it last year. They both should be in their prime/entering their prime. We’re excited about both of them and essentially don’t have a fixed plan moving forward.”
Both goalies are 28 years old. Mason made 53 starts last season and went 23-19-10 with a .918 save percentage, while Neuvirth started 29 times and finished 18-8-4 with a .924 save percentage.
Potentially complicating Hextall’s decision is the expansion draft in June, when each team will only be allowed to protect one netminder.
The Flyers also have a couple of decent goaltending prospects in Anthony Stolarz, a second-round draft pick in 2012, and Alex Lyon, the college free agent they signed in April. Stolarz, 22, has already spent two seasons in the AHL. It’s possible, if he continues to improve, that he could be ready for the NHL next season.
“We’re just going to play this season and see how things go,” Hextall added. “That doesn’t mean at some point…I don’t want to say something because I don’t know right now.”