According to Tim Panaccio of csnphilly.com, the Flyers’ are poised to sign Ray Emery as their starting goalie for next season.

While Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren declined to confirm the report, several general managers at the Stanley Cup Final consider the matter a “done deal” says Panaccio.

“We’ve had conversations with his agent [J.P. Barry] about a lot of things,” Holmgren said. “But I’m not going to comment on our internal discussions of players.”

Nevertheless, Barry has confirmed the deal to CSN.

“We have been talking several weeks now,” Barry said. “Paul has done due diligence on Ray. I’m hopeful it will lead to a contract.”

Emery has had a turbulent career in the NHL. In his first season, 2005-2006, he set the record for wins to start a career as a member of the Ottowa Senators. However, the next season the Senators brought in Martin Gerber to compete for the starting job with Emery. Gerber eventually won the starting position, but was sidelined in mid-November due to his poor play.

On Saturday, February 10, 2007, Emery was suspended three games from the NHL for striking Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre in the face with his stick after Lapierre crashed into Emery’s net^.

Twelve days after serving that suspension, Emery was involved in a fight with current Flyers’ goaltender Martin Biron, who was then playing for the Buffalo Sabres. After fighting Biron, Emery turned his attention to Andrew Peters, the Sabres’ enforcer. As a result, both goalies received game misconducts and Emery received two five-minute fighting majors. In total, Emery wound up with a total of 22 penalty minutes (two five-minute majors for fighting, a two-minute minor for leaving the crease, and the 10-minute game misconduct) for this altercation.

During the 2007-2008 season, Emery saw significantly less playing time and repeatedly took out his frustration on coach John Paddock during practice. In December of that season, Emery was sent home by Paddock after claiming he was sick. However, this came just one day after Emery broke his stick by slamming it on the ice in frustration over his lack of playing time. The incident fueled rampant speculation of whether the Senators would trade Emery.

Senators’ general manager Brian Murray let it be known that he tried to trade Emery that year, but could not find any takers for the firey netminder. That season Emery was fined for repeated tardiness, and got into altercations during practice with teammates Brian McGrattan and Chris Neil.

On April 18, 2008, Murray announced during a press conference that the Senators would not “have him back” the next season. On June 20, 2008, the Senators put Emery on waivers and he became a free agent.

Emery has also been involved with off-the-ice controversey as well. In September of 2007, he was involved in a incident of road rage against an Ottawa resident. Emery claimed the man cut him off and is just bitter that he lost the “war of words”. The main claimed that Emery threatened to kill him, and feared for his life after being forced to stop when Emery blocked the road with his Hummer.

In March 2009, Emery was charged with stunt driving under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act after being caught speeding in excess of 50 km/h over the speed limit of 100 km/h.

Despite all the trouble that Emery caused the Senators, Murray believes Emery deserves a second chance.

“Philadelphia has always had great teams, it’s a very good organization, and they certainly treat their players first class,” Murray said. “I think Ray, or whoever went there, falls into the groove a little bit. Ottawa was the same.

“He went to Russia, and from what I understand, he had a very good year. He’s young. He certainly has ability.”

Emery is 71-40-14 in 134 games played with a goals against average of 2.71. Playing for Atlant Mytischi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season, Emery posted a 2.12 goals against average and .920 save percentage with a record of 22-8.

Emery is still technically under contract with his Russian team, and cannot sign with the Flyers until July 1.