The Flyers have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with UFA goalie Daniel Vladař worth $3.35MM per season, per a team announcement.
After Jake Allen was taken off the market earlier this morning, Vladař became the best available option for the Flyers to fulfill their goaltending needs. He’s unlikely to take over the starting role outright in Philadelphia, but he should create a better tandem than they previously had with Samuel Ersson.
The shorter-term deal is likely some insurance for the Flyers, as it’s challenging to predict exactly what version of Vladař they’ll get. From 2022 to 2024, Vladař served as a backup and achieved a record of 35 wins, 21 losses, and 9 ties with the Flames, posting a SV% of .894 and a GAA of 3.05. Furthermore, his advanced metrics look even worse, considering his -20.1 Goals Saved Above Average in the same time frame.
Still, Vladař seemingly corrected many of his flaws this past season playing behind rookie Dustin Wolf. In the best season of his career, Vladař managed a 12-11-6 record in 30 games with a .898 SV% and 2.80 GAA, while securing a .586 quality start percentage.
Although those numbers wouldn’t typically generate much excitement, they’re far superior to anything the Flyers had available last season. Ersson recorded the highest save percentage on the team with a .883 line, while the team itself finished with a measly .879.
At the very least, Vladař should bring more stability to Philadelphia’s crease. Furthermore, the two-year arrangement gives the Flyers more breathing room to wait until their competitive window completely opens to add a bigger fish between the pipes.
PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed significantly to this article.