The Carter Hart era is finally upon the Philadelphia Flyers.
Hart, who was selected in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, was recalled from the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, prior to the team’s practice on Monday.
“I don’t really want to follow any path that they have for me, I just want to get to the NHL as fast as I can,” Hart told ESPN.com’s Emily Kaplan back in November. “I appreciate the fans and love the city of Philly. I want to be there as soon as I can. I don’t care what path it is, I want it to be the quickest path possible.”
With Anthony Stolarz going on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury and expected to be out for 2-4 weeks, the Flyers loaned Alex Lyon to the Phantoms and made the move to bring up the 20-year-old netminder.
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One of the last cuts at camp, Hart posted a 1.87 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in the pre-season. In his first pro season, Hart has a 9-5-2 record with a 3.05 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage with the Phantoms.
First practice with the big club for Carter Hart. #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/lgQ1UGXPbz
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 17, 2018
The young goaltender may finally be showing what he can bring to a Philadelphia organization desperate for a consistent and exceptional backstop as he is 4-1-0 with a 1.82 GAA and a .939 save percentage in his last five starts. Ten days ago he netted his first shutout with 26 saves in a 1-0 win over Hershey.
Hart also brings a resume filled with success. In four seasons with the Everett Silvertips he won the WHL’s Goaltender of the Year Award three times, the CHL’s Goaltender of the Year Award twice and was named the WHL’s MVP last year. He backstopped Hockey Canada to a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World Juniors Championship and a goal medal last year with a 1.81 GAA and a .930 save percentage in six games.
Regardless of the injury to Stolarz, the move is an intriguing one by new Executive Vice President and General Manager Chuck Fletcher. Many speculated that keeping Hart in the AHL played a part in the downfall of former GM Ron Hextall. Hextall, who himself was a Vezina Trophy-winning netminder, had stated that he wanted Hart to gain experience in the minors and wouldn’t see the NHL until 2020.
Fletcher made the move just hours before firing head coach Dave Hakstol following a four-game Canadian road trip where the Flyers went 0-3-1 and were outscored 22-8. Scott Gordon, who was the head coach in Lehigh Valley and therefore, coached Hart, was named as the interim head coach.
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The Flyers have one of the NHL’s worst defenses as they are tied for the third most goals against (116) and are third worst in 3.74 goals-against-per-game. Despite having players like Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere they only can muster 2.97 goals-per-game.
It’ll be interesting to see how Hart, who has played on a big stage, handles the pressure of being a savior for a Flyers team mired at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
When he does get the nod, the Alberta native will be the sixth goalie to suit up for Philadelphia this season. The Flyers host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday and it could mark Hart’s debut in front of the hometown fans. No pressure for the kid who wants center stage.
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