Flyers Sign Goaltender Boucher to Two-Year Contract

The Philadelphia Flyers added some goaltending depth to their roster on Wednesday by signing Brian Boucher to a two-year contract worth $1.85 million. The deal averages out to $925,000 per season. This marks Boucher’s third stint with Philadelphia. With the Flyers very close to the salary cap ceiling just prior to the beginning of free agency, it became obvious that last season’s tandem of Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki would not be returning. The Flyers then set out in search of affordable goaltenders and got those in Ray Emery and Boucher. In 22 games last season as the back-up with the San Jose Sharks, Boucher posted a 12-6-3 record with a 2.18 GAA and a .917 save percentage. This is a decent, affordable goaltending signing for the Flyers. Boucher was excellent in San Jose the past couple seasons and should maintain the same success in Philadelphia. However, the Flyers are now over the salary cap, but have until the start of the 2009-10 season to have their payroll at $56.8 million. Look for them to try to make a salary dumping trade in the coming months. If they can’t, they will have to demote someone to the minors.