The Philadelphia Flyers are content with Michal Neuvirth as one of two goaltenders next season, but they're not sure Anthony Stolarz can be the second.
"We'll see if we find an option for us that's better for us short-term," general manager Ron Hextall told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday. "[Stolarz] is an option. Is he the best option? I don't know if I can quite say that. He's young (23). [Neuvirth], we all know the history of injuries. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with Stolie and him given Neuvy's history of injuries -- and Stolie's inexperience -- [and] putting them both together."
Stolarz was 4-2-1 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .928 save percentage after making his NHL debut Nov. 27.
The Flyers protected Stolarz in the NHL Expansion Draft, and Neuvirth was not selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. Stolarz, who can become a restricted free agent July 1, reportedly had surgery in April to repair the MCL in his right knee after he was injured in a late-season game playing for Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League.
Neuvirth, 29, was 11-11-1 with a 2.82 GAA and .891 save percentage this season. He sustained a concussion when he collapsed in his crease against the New Jersey Devils on April 1 and earlier missed 24 games after sustaining a lower-body injury Nov. 12 against the Minnesota Wild.
The Flyers signed Neuvirth to a contract reportedly for two years and $5 million (average annual value of $2.5 million) on March 1.
Steve Mason, who was 26-21-8 with a 2.66 GAA and .908 save percentage this season, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The 29-year-old said in April he would want to be the undisputed No. 1 goalie to return to Philadelphia. Hextall didn't rule out bringing him back.
"Is it [Mason]? Is it a free agent? Is it a trade?" said Hextall, who is in Chicago for the 2017 NHL Draft presented by adidas. "I don't have the answer to that. We expect to do a platoon. Neuvy's too good to say, 'He's your backup and he's going to play 20 games.'"