I wrote an article last week about how Ray Emery may be making a return to the NHL.
Since then, there has been much hype around the former goaltender, with Emery admitting in a recent interview that there were three teams that have inquired about his services.
Emery would not tell reporters which teams had inquired about him, so of course there was speculations and rumors a plenty. It was unclear at first who may be interested in Emery, but slowly, information was leaked and now it appears evident who may want to bring Ray aboard.
The first team that was reported to be interested was the Anaheim Ducks. It could make sense for the Ducks, considering Jonas Hiller has been stricken with what the Ducks are calling "fatigue". Curtis McElhinney is a capable back up, but if the Ducks are serious about a playoff push, Ray may be just what they need.
The second team to surface was the Detroit Red Wings. It probably makes the most sense that Ray would wind up on the Red Wings, given the fact that the club recently signed Evgeni Nabokov to a one-year, $570,000 deal only to lose him to the Islanders through the waiver wire. They're clearly in the market for a goaltender and I'm sure it won't be much longer before they get one.
The third team, however, came as a bit of a surprise to me—the Philadelphia Flyers.
It's not a total shock that they would consider the 28-year-old goaltender, but the Flyers seem to have a bit of a log-jam in goal. They can't exactly send him to the Phantoms since they already banished Michael Leighton there last month, and they already have Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher holding it down right now.
In terms of the future, it makes sense. Brian Boucher is on a contract year, and the Flyers may not bring him back. He hasn't given them any reason not to, but Ray Emery is younger, and has more potential. Ray would also most likely come cheap, since he is a risky signing, which would benefit the Flyers greatly.
I still wasn't completely sold on the whole Emery to Philly thing until I heard Ray speak so highly of Philadelphia in an interview with CBC.
"I loved it there. Great group of guys, always hung out together. No small groups of four or five, split up from everyone else.” said Ray.
In order to bring Emery into the line-up, they would most likely have to trade away another goalie.
Perhaps the Flyers already have a deal in place with another team that will see one of their goalies moved in order to bring Ray aboard. It is very possible.
One thing is certain, it won't be long before we find out where exactly Ray will end up.
Ray's agent, J.P. Barry told TSN, "Ray feels great and wants to be playing next week. We are now exploring all possibilities and will have to make a decision relatively soon."
If Ray Emery can return to the form he was in during 2007 when he led the Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Flyers could have a scary one-two combo in Emery and Sergei Bobrovsky, even if Ray is a risk.
Stay tuned, folks. It won't be long now.
Kelly Rowland Danica Patrick Josie Maran Leighton Meester Dominique Swain
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