VOORHEES, N.J. – Job security in the NHL can be uncertain at best.
Just ask Samuel Ersson.
At the beginning of last season, the Flyers goaltender was in competition with Felix Sandstrom and Cal Petersen for the backup job behind regular starter Carter Hart.
Ersson wasn’t even sure he would start the season in Philadelphia.
But he outperformed his competition and held his own when called upon to spell Hart.
Then circumstances led to Ersson taking over the No. 1 post. Hart ran into legal problems stemming from an alleged 2018 assault case involving a woman and his status went into limbo. Eventually the Flyers decided to part ways via free agency.
Ersson showed signs he could handle a regular workload and that’s the attitude he’s taking this season.
He’s already been declared the No. 1 netminder by general manager Daniel Briere. Ivan Fedotov has taken over the No. 2 spot.
The important thing is there’s no longer any cloud hanging over the whole situation. For Ersson, now, it just comes down to hard work and making that No. 1 appointment justified.
“Obviously I come in to camp (this year) with a different mindset,” the Swede explained during training camp at the Flyers Training Center.
“The big thing for me is to not get comfortable. I know nothing will be given to me. I have to earn everything here so I have to earn playing time. The mindset for me is I have to work extremely hard and push myself. Push other goalies as well, and they will push me, too.”
Ersson said this past summer was important from a physical conditioning standpoint, but preparing mentally was crucial as well.
“It wasn’t so much how I train,” he said. “You try to have a good summer, put the work in. But I think it’s more of a mindset. Kind of knowing more what to expect, having a little more experience of what it is to go through a full season in the NHL with the schedule you play. You play every other night.
“You have to find a way to really have a short memory. Both with good games and bad games. So you have to take what you need to get better. You have to put that behind you pretty quickly and move forward.”
Fortunately for Ersson, he has a strong support group. Coach Kim Dillabaugh is a big believer, as is a large contingent of teammates.
“You’ve got your team around you,” Ersson said. “Sometimes it’s just me talking, spewing pretty much and they have to listen to that. They know how to calm me down. They know what I need if they have to push me a little bit. Or if they have to take a step back.
“You find you have that inner circle. People you know you can lean on.”
Ersson sounds like he gets along well with Fedotov.
“He came in late last season, he’s a good guy,” Ersson said. “To work with him was fun. With his size (6-foot-7), he’ll play a little bit of a different way. All goalies have their little niches that they’re good at. You look to see if there is something I can pick up on, add to my game.
“I feel like we can have a good conversation, too. You just try to help each other. With the competition out there, you try to win every drill. I think that’s what you push each other to get better.”
It’s safe to say getting through last season plus a summer dedicated to training has Ersson ready for this challenge.
“I think it (last season) was a great experience,” Ersson said. “For me, for the whole team to be a part of a team that’s pushing for a playoff spot. You can feel how tight the race is. And how the bar gets higher and higher. That’s something we’ll have with us this year, especially the young guys on the team.”
