Each day from now until July 1, the day free agency begins, Tom Dougherty and Tim Riday will profile some of the NHL's top impending free agents and project their likelihood of signing with the Flyers.
Michal Neuvirth, goalie
Age: 27
Height: 6-1
Weight: 209
Last team: New York Islanders
2014-15 cap hit: $2.5 million
Scouting report
Neuvirth has a solid frame with the strength to stay calm and patient. He's a butterfly goalie who doesn't overdo it in net, and owns the ability to steal games. He's a quick goalie with good reflexes and has shown he's able to stay healthy. He does let in some weak goals at times and still needs to show he can be a No. 1 goalie.
Selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 2006 NHL draft, Neuvirth played in 134 games with the Capitals over a six-season span. For most of his time with Washington, he battled with Braden Holtby for the No. 1 job before Holtby won out, and the Caps traded Neuvirth to the Sabres for Jaroslav Halak on May 1, 2014.
The 27-year-old goalie appeared in two games for the Sabres in the 2013-14 season and 27 games this past season before Buffalo sent him to the New York Islanders. Neuvirth was 6-17-3 with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage with Buffalo, and 1-3-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .881 save percentage with the Isles.
Dougherty's projection
Neuvirth fits the bill of a backup goalie who can fill in long term if Steve Mason goes down with an injury, but he's going to cost too much for the Flyers. In addition, the jury is still out on him as a No. 1 goalie, so it's unclear if he would willingly sign somewhere to be a backup goalie for 20 to 25 games.
I'm not so sure it's going to be because the Flyers aren't interested in Neuvirth as much as he's not interested in what the Flyers have to offer him. I don't see him as a realistic option for the Flyers' backup goalie position, and not because the Flyers would not be interested in him. It's likely Neuvirth will look for a situation where he'll have a shot at playing.
NHL
That's not Philadelphia.
Riday's projection
At 27, Neuvirth still has plenty of upside. But when you look at his entire body of work, all signs point to the netminder maxing out as a career backup.
He's been given every opportunity to prove he can be a starter in the NHL, but hasn't been able to put a significant stretch of consistent play together at any point in his time as a professional.
Neuvirth is 66-63-17 with a 2.73 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 168 games between the Capitals, Sabres and Islanders. Very average numbers.
Steve Mason is the guy in Philadelphia. Neuvirth would have to accept a limited role with the Flyers. I don't see that happening. There are several bottom-feeders in need of goaltending help.
Neuvirth isn't in a position to command much higher than the $2.5 million he earned last season, but my guess is he'll still get a decent contract and a chance to start elsewhere.