What should the Flyers do with Carter Hart this summer?

Amid a changing of the guard in Philadelphia, the Flyers may have to make a tough decision regarding goaltender Carter Hart’s future this summer.

With interim general manager Daniel Briere running the show following Chuck Fletcher’s dismissal, the franchise is expected to enter a rebuild in the coming months, with Briere admitting it won’t be a quick fix during his introductory press conference. That means a busy offseason likely lies ahead for Philadelphia’s front office.

Creating much-needed financial flexibility will likely be first on the agenda, especially considering the organization currently features just $7.16 million in projected cap space for 2023-24. Much of this season’s roster should be available, including Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton, Ivan Provorov and Rasmus Ristolainen.

But the question remains, what about Hart? Could the 24-year-old be suiting up for a new team next season? While nothing is set in stone yet, the Flyers will likely field offers on the talented netminder this summer, according to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

Would it be in Philadelphia’s best interest to trade Hart, though? That is among the questions Briere will ask himself between now and the start of the offseason. As for what could be the deciding factors, let’s explore the pros and cons of moving the Flyers goaltender.

Pros

If the Flyers ultimately decide to trade Hart, the former second-round selection would likely garner plenty of interest as the league’s shortage of competent goaltenders remains at an all-time high. So the front office would be dealing from a position of strength.

The Sherwood Park, Alberta native is also enjoying a fairly productive season despite playing behind a sub-par roster, which has hung him out to dry on plenty of occasions. But he has held things together pretty well, all things considered, posting a 2.96 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage across 48 games.

On the surface, those results probably aren’t eye-popping to most. They are, however, much improved from the 3.34 GAA and .895 SV% he recorded over the previous two seasons, the worst stretch of his career. And his trade value might never be as high as it is now.

Trading Hart would surely net a significant return, a package that could include high-end draft picks and a quality prospect or two. For an organization aiming to rebuild, now is the time to stockpile as many future assets as possible.

This route would also prove beneficial financially, considering the club’s young goaltender can become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after 2023-24 before reaching unrestricted free agency in 2025. And the last thing Philadelphia needs is to add another long-term contract to its payroll.

It is worth remembering the Flyers are well-positioned in net, as prospect Samuel Ersson — who served as the team’s backup Tuesday — appears ready for the next level. The problem, however, is his path to the NHL is currently blocked by Hart and Felix Sandström.

There would be advantages to switching to Ersson, though, as he already has 10 NHL games under his belt and owns a 2.61 GAA and a .907 SV% with one shutout in 31 AHL contests this season. More importantly, the 23-year-old carries an $860K cap hit through 2023-24 before becoming an RFA without arbitration eligibility, making him a lot cheaper than Hart.

Given the volatility of goaltenders, there is also the danger of holding onto Hart for too long. He could easily struggle next season, reducing his value significantly and complicating his trade market — an outcome the Flyers can’t afford.