Flyers' Zepp 'thrilled to have the opportunity' to make the NHL at 33

Rob Zepp's long, winding career led him from backstopping the ECHL's Florida Everblades to winning five German league titles with Eisbaren Berlin, but he's never come close to cracking an NHL roster - until now.

Zepp, 33, signed with the Philadelphia Flyers organization in the offseason after nine seasons in Europe and was expected to compete for the starting job with the franchise's AHL affiliate. Now it appears Zepp could start the season as the Flyers backup netminder if Ray Emery is still injured.

"You play ever since you're a kid trying to make it to the NHL," Zepp told the Philadelphia Daily News. "I really believe in my ability. Obviously, you never know until you get to that level. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity now. I didn't want to look back one day and wonder 'what if?' the rest of my life."

The Atlanta Thrashers selected Zepp in the fourth round of the 1999 NHL draft but never signed him, allowing him to re-enter the draft in 2001, when he was once again a fourth-round selection, this time by the Carolina Hurricanes. Zepp appeared in just seven games with Carolina's AHL affiliate and left for Europe in 2005.

Philadelphia noticed Zepp when Claude Giroux and Daniel Briere spent time playing with Berlin during the 2012-13 lockout. Giroux and Briere sang Zepp's praises upon their return to North America, which made the Flyers front office take notice.

"Besides being the best goalie in the German league, what hit me with Rob was his attitude and professionalism," Briere told the Daily News on Sunday. "He was the hardest worker on and off the ice and I was convinced he could play in the NHL because of all of that."

The odds of Zepp making his NHL debut with Philadelphia are high: the Flyers have used more than two goaltenders in four of the last five seasons.