Five seasons ago, the Philadelphia Flyers faced a tumultuous goaltending situation, cycling through eight different netminders during the 2018-19 season. Among them was Alex Lyon, now the established starter for the Detroit Red Wings.
Lyon, now 31 years old, spent parts of four seasons with the Flyers, where he initially broke into the NHL. However, he only saw significant action in one season, back in 2017-18.
After his tenure with the Flyers, Lyon had a brief stint with the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2021-22 season before garnering attention for his impressive performance with the Florida Panthers, who reached the Stanley Cup Finals. Despite spending most of the season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, Lyon posted notable numbers for the Panthers, finishing with a 9-4-2 record, a 2.89 goals-against average (GAA), and a .912 save percentage.
Following his time in Florida, Lyon signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings in July. Initially expected to serve as Ville Husso’s backup and compete for playing time with James Reimer, Lyon has surpassed expectations.
#RedWings HC Derek Lalonde expects Patrick Kane back in the lineup Saturday and says Alex Lyon will be back in net.
"Alex has undoubtedly established himself, that it’s going to be his net here for a while. But we’re going to sprinkle Ville back in." @StoneyJansen
— Will Burchfield (@burchie_kid) February 8, 2024
Currently, Lyon has solidified his position as the Red Wings’ primary goaltender. With a record of 13-6-2 in his first season in Detroit, Lyon boasts career-best stats with a 2.51 GAA and a .922 save percentage. Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde recently confirmed Lyon’s status as the team’s top goaltender.
Lyon’s stellar performances, including his recent shutout against his former team, the Flyers, have cemented his role as the go-to goalie for the Red Wings. Meanwhile, the Flyers, who have struggled to find goaltending stability in recent years, now see former backup Sam Ersson thrust into the starting role due to circumstances surrounding Carter Hart’s absence.
