Free agent options for Flyers’ backup role

Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Flyers were killed by their goaltending last year and it’s no secret that the expectation is for Carter Hart to return to some faint picture of his former, younger All-Star self. But everybody needs some help along the way and with elder statesman Brian Elliott heading into free agency — and maybe retirement — the Flyers are in need of a new top-level backup.

There are still rumors that they might get that goaltender via trade and Braden Holtby is the latest unfortunate netminder to be linked to this team, but trading for the former elite goaltender is a risky one with a sizeable cap hit. So why not just start from scratch and…