Frank Seravalli of the Daily News suggested a month ago that, should the Flyers ink Ilya Bryzgalov to a long-term deal, the organization should also seek a trade for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
One month later, it appears he is now being (and has been, to some extent) shopped around the league for just that purpose.
Seravalli’s main arguments were that:
- If Bryzgalov starts 65+ games per season, Bobrovsky won’t be able to develop
- Bobrovsky’s $1.75 million cap hit is fairly high to carry as a back-up
- Bobrovsky may have enough trade value to garner a first or second round draft pick
All three points hold water, but the most salient point- his potential trade value- has been compromised by the timing of the latest rumors. With free agency over a week old, most teams have already signed both their starting netminders and back-ups. The Anaheim Ducks, for instance, announced that they have signed former Oilers goalie Jeff Deslauriers to a two-way deal while the Ottawa Senators have signed prospect Mike McKenna. Both are depth signings.
Bobrovsky’s stock has apparently not been as highly regarded by other general managers as it has by Paul Holmgren. The only teams that may have an immediate use for Bob are the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings, although one could reasonably throw the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers into the discussion as well.
The biggest shame in all of this is the fact that Bob could have still been a potential future #1 for the orange and black if the organization hadn’t misread the free agent market and signed Bryzgalov to such a long contract before July 1. I refuse to give them credit for “going out and getting the guy they wanted” because there is never a guarantee, especially with goaltenders, that any particular player is going to be “the guy.”
How many times has this team signed “the guy” before?
Even if they ended up overpaying for Byzgalov in free agency, you’d have to think that the length would have been nowhere close to nine years. That’s an eternity for a city that hates losing.
Bob may have faltered down the stretch in his rookie year, but he is a quiet, introverted 22 year-old who could have perfectly fit the “new culture” that the team is supposedly pushing for. Instead, the Flyers have a potentially volatile goalie with the catch phrase, “Why you heff to be mad?”
If Bobrovsky is traded, one of Michael Leighton or Johan Backlund will back up Bryzgalov. Conventional wisdom suggests Leighton would fill the spot due to his experience, but Backlund is both cheaper and in better favor with the organization.
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Why would they trade BOB, & bring up Leighton? Leighton sucks & their cap hits are nearly identical. What are they saving by doing that $30K? The Flyers will be worse off, not better. There is no way Laviolette wants Leighton back here, & Backlund couldn’t even play full time for the Phantoms. You keep Bob, there are no viable backups, out there that your going to get cheaper. There is no way anyone is giving the Flyers a 1st rounder. Come on, why are our athletes always being overrated & overvalued in this city!? Stop it already, JEESH!!
2 Main Reasons DDCar
#1) “Bobs” has more upside and more trade Value than Leighton
#2) Young Goalies typically don’t make very reliable back-ups, they need to play on a regular basis to keep sharp and focused and the Back-up Goalie role is much better suited for a Veteran who may go 10-15 days between playing/starting which is very difficult for a young Goalie to adjust to…
Since the Flyers have made the big Committment/Investment in “Bryz”, it’s now difficult to keep a 22 years old Goalie and say he is the Future since “Bryz” has a 9 Year Contract.. “Bobs’ has to go (try to think of a similar situation between #1 QB Vick and his back-up Kolb, Kolb has to go…