Is Bobrovsky the Flyer's Future?

Sergei Bobrovsky had a fantastic rookie season. Kudos for winning your first start, in the first official regular season game need I remind you, in Pittsburgh's new digs. A Flyer moment that will always come to my mind when I watch a game in that house. Yes!

So how good was his rookie season? I pulled up rookie stats of some of the greatest net minders to ever play the game. I think he's off to a good start.

Bobrovsky 28-13-8 GAA: 2.59 SV%: 0.915

George Hainsworth 28-14-2 GAA: 1.47 SV%: N/A
Jacques Plante 31-13-7 GAA: 2.10 SV% 0.926
Glenn Hall 30-24-16 GAA: 2.10 SV%: 0.922
Tony Esposito 38-17-8 GAA: 2.17 SV%: N/A
Ken Dryden 39-8-15 GAA: 2.24 SV%: N/A
Terry Sawchuk 44-13-13 GAA: 1.99 SV%: N/A
Dominik Hasek 10-4-1 GAA: 2.60 SV%: 0.893
Ed Belfour 43-19-7 GAA: 2.47 SV%: 0.910
Martin Brodeur 27-11-8 GAA: 2.40 SV%: 0.915
Patrick Roy 23-18-3 GAA: 3.35 SV%: 0.875

Despite all the numbers, Bobrovsky has talent. Talent, that with a little coaching elbow grease, could prove valuable to the Flyers brass. I can only hope the kid gets some considerable playing time next season. Sending him down to the minors to work on his skills would be tough, now that he has had a taste of the NHL big cheese. I wonder how you say big cheese in Russian?

Flyers Sign Free Agent Goalie Niko Hovinen

Prospect Grade: 6.0 D
Selected by Minnesota Wild round 5 #132 overall 2006 NHL Entry Draft

2008-09 Min 1110 GA 54 SO 2 GAA 2.92 W 7 L 12 T 1 Svs 463 Pct 0.896
2009-10 Min 944 GA 47 SO 1 GAA 2.99 W 5 L 7 T 3 Svs 498 Pct 0.914

History
Hovinen has developed in the Jokerit system in Helsinki. He established himself as an important junior national team player in 2004 and split international starter duties for two years, until ailments and fatigue led to a disappointing spring season, which caused him to be left out of the U18 World Championships in 2006. At draft time he was the starter of the Jokerit Jr A squad.
2007-08: The year was especially tough. Although his numbers at the A junior level were somewhat respectable, his SM-Liiga debut did not go well.

2008-09: Starter for the Pelicans in FNL.


Talent Analysis
Standing at over 6'7, Hovinen is a towering presence even in butterfly stance. He is the biggest Finnish goalie of his generation but still its typical member as far as movement goes. Despite his immature but big body he has what it takes to dominate shooters with a butterfly style. He is calm but timid in his style of play: He doesn't lunge toward the puck forcefully enough and surprisingly gets pushed around. His ability to read the game is still undeveloped, which also hinders his puckhandling. Hovinen has fantastic game-breaking ability and possesses tools for development with few boundaries for his potential.