Bryzgalov Sounds Less and Less Likely to be Signed

Paul Holmgren’s decision to trade for the rights to Ilya Bryzgalov does not mean that Bryz will be the starter for the orange and black next season. It simply means we have the best opportunity to sign the former Vezina nominee.

After reading various reports and quotes, I don’t think it’s going to get done.

Fox Sports Arizona reported that Bryzgalov was looking for a 10-year, $7-8 million per year deal from the Phoenix Coyotes before being traded.  His agent, Rich Winters, told Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post, “Any reference to contractual negotiations or discussions with the Philadelphia Flyers, whether it’s the term he’s looking for or the amount, I’ll say for the record will be a complete fabrication because the only people privy to those conversations are Ilya, myself and his wife.”

This has become a case of “he said she said” as it has become unclear whether Bryzgalov wants to bleed an NHL team dry or if he wants to do his part to win the Stanley Cup.  Bryz told Gormley, “Philadelphia is a great city, a great organization and a great team with a rich history.  I am looking forward to meeting with Paul Holmgren to discuss the possibility of us working together for many years to come… I would love very much to be a part of the team that brings the Stanley Cup back to Philadelphia.”

In other words, he is saying all the right things.  I don’t want to say he’s being a sneaky Russian, but…  to paraphrase from the Simpsons, I don’t know how else to finish this sentence. Right now, Bryz holds all the cards and he is putting the pressure on Holmgren to make this contract happen, even if it strangleholds the team for the next few years.

Many people like saying that Bryzgalov will be a good mentor for Sergei Bobrovsky, but I can’t help but think that’s a load of crap.  Just because they’re both Russian doesn’t mean that they will magically bond like best friends who speak a foreign language.  What possible reason would Bryzgalov, who seems to be looking for a very long-term deal (despite what his agent says), be willing to play buddy-buddy with a young goaltender who could steal his spot just two years from now?

How would Bobrovsky, “the goalie of the future,” develop with just an estimated 20 starts for the season anyway?  There is no way that Bob remains a Flyer after his contract expires if Bryzgalov signs a long-term contract.

I imagine that Holmgren would really like to make this deal happen, but I also believe him to be a smarter general manager than he normally gets credit for.  There aren’t many teams out there who have as obvious of goaltending issues as we have, and the only organization that I believe would be willing to overpay for Bryzgalov (other than the Flyers) would be the Toronto Mapleleafs, who were rumored to be in the Bryz running before the trade.

Leafs general manager Brian Burke was the general manager for the Anaheim Ducks when they won the Stanley Cup in 2007, and Bryz was the back-up goaltender.  Granted, Jean-Sebastien Giguere was the starter, but Bryz is younger and healthier than Giguere, who is currently Leafs property until July 1.

Here is my final two cents- Ilya Bryzgalov is not worth hemorrhaging the future of the Philadelphia Flyers. He is a great goaltender to have, but not at the rumored price he is looking for.  I’d rather the Flyers let this play out and sign goaltender Tomas Vokoun to a shorter, cheaper deal if Bryzgalov is unwilling to be reasonable with his contract demands.

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