Do they bypass the chance to trade for a goalie at the draft and instead wait until the free-agency period starts on July 1 and sign a competent guy like Dan Ellis or Chris Mason?
Do they re-sign Michael Leighton as their No. 1 goalie, or try to make a deal for an available goaltender such as Minnesota's Josh Harding?
A high-placed league source thinks the Flyers will re-sign Leighton, whose agent, Mike Liut, had initial contract talks with general manager Paul Holmgren in Los Angeles on Thursday. The same source said it was a longshot that the Flyers would deal Carter.
"No one is untouchable," said the source, "but you don't find guys like Jeff Carter too often."
There are factors that affect the Great Goalie Quest, such as how much it will cost the Flyers to sign recently acquired defensemen Dan Hamhuis - if they are able to sign him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.
The amount of money it costs to sign Hamhuis (possibly as much as $16 million for four years) and restricted free agent Braydon Coburn could have a bearing on the type of goalie the Flyers sign/acquire. The fact that the cap has increased 5 percent, from $56.7 million to $59.4 million, could help the Flyers sign both defensemen.
The draft, which will be held at the Staples Center, is not considered especially deep, so getting a gem at No. 89 is doubtful.
They also could come home with a goaltender. Here are the goalies on the Flyers' radar:
Jonathan Bernier, Los Angeles.
The Kings are Flyers West, and the teams seem compatible. Los Angeles has former Flyer head coaches Terry Murray (head coach) and John Stevens (assistant) helping run things. The Kings also have two front-office executives with Flyers ties - general manager Dean Lombardi and assistant GM Ron Hextall - making personnel decisions.
