Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella does not hide the fact that he is worried about his team’s situation in front of the net.
The Pennsylvania team should trust Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov in 2024-25, two goaltenders who do not have much experience at the highest level.
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At this time last year, the Flyers weren’t asking too many questions about it, since Carter Hart represented a certainty. The latter, however, no longer plays in the National Hockey League (NHL), he who is one of the accused of sexual assault in the 2018 Canada Junior Team affair.
“We have a completely new goalkeeping situation this year. It really scares me,” Tortorella told The Athletic on Tuesday.
“We’re not starting the season with Carter and this is the first time that Ersson is truly number 1. Even though I admire his mental strength, I don’t know how it’s going to go,” the pilot continued.
All the pressure
Ersson was thrust into the spotlight last January, when Hart was placed on siding due to his legal troubles. In 51 games, the 24-year-old Swede maintained a record of 23-19-7, an efficiency percentage of .890 and a goals against average of 2.82.
Tortorella has already said he wants Ersson to play between 55 and 60 of his team’s games this season.
“He’s ready to take his chance. He has an opportunity, he said. I think the mental aspect of this job is the most important part. Sam now has to say to himself: “I’m number 1, I’m not the backup anymore.” It’s a completely different state of mind. That’s what encourages me with him, because I think he has great mental strength.”
Et Fedotov?
As for the Russian goalkeeper, Tortorella clearly seems to want to see more of him before making up his mind. Fedotov arrived in North America at the end of the campaign last year, after a long saga.
In three games in front of the Flyers net, he has not experienced the joy of victory, in addition to maintaining an efficiency rate of .811 and a goals against average of 4.95.
“We’re going to give Fedotov some time,” Tortorella said last week. I hope he takes the opportunity and it goes from there. If it doesn’t work, we’ll have to re-evaluate, but it won’t always be Sam Ersson.”
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