Flyers acquire rights to Bryzgalov

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor

From Ed Snider's lips to Paul Holmgren's ears.

The Philadelphia Flyers took a big first step towards rectifying what Snider termed a "goalie carousel" by acquiring the rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.

The  club  announced Tuesday  that the rights  to the 30-year-old unrestricted free  agent were  procured from  Phoenix for  minor leaguer  Matt Clackson,  a third-round draft pick in 2012 and a conditional draft pick.

Bryzgalov  made  $4.5 million in  2010-11 for the  Coyotes. He finished with a 36-20-10  mark, 2.48  goals-against average and seven shutouts in 68 games (67 starts).

Acquired off waivers from Anaheim in November 2007, just months after he was a part of the Ducks' Stanley Cup win, Bryzgalov was the runner-up for the Vezina Trophy in 2010 after going 42-20-6 with eight shutouts and a 2.29 GAA.
 
"The last few years in Phoenix...I think he's probably the biggest reason why they became a playoff team," Holmgren said in a post-announcement press conference. "We didn't make this trade just to acquire his rights just to hang around. We're going to try our best to get him signed."



Since  breaking  in with  Anaheim during  the 2001-02  season, the Russian has racked  up a 156-116-35  record, 2.53 GAA and 23 whitewashes in 326 games (312 starts) with the Mighty Ducks/Ducks and Coyotes.

In  27 playoff  tilts,  he  has gone  12-13  with a  2.55  GAA  and .917  save percentage.

Bryzgalov  also  represented Russia  in  three  Olympics (2002,  2006,  2010), winning  a bronze medal at Turin in '06. He also took home a gold medal at the 2009 World Championships and a silver in 2000.

With  free agency  set for July 1,  any team which acquires the services of an unrestricted free agent can negotiate a contract with the player up until that date.

The  Flyers  attempted to  do  so  after  acquiring  the rights  to  Nashville defenseman  Dan  Hamhuis last  summer, but  were ultimately  unable to come to terms and he was dealt to Pittsburgh before ending up signing with Vancouver. 


Should the club come to terms with the netminder, either Brian Boucher or Michael Leighton will not be retained by the franchise in any capacity. Boucher is the likely candidate, as he is an unrestricted free agent. Leighton has one year worth $1.6 million remaining on his current deal.


In any case, the attempt at signing a veteran goaler of Russian extraction suggests the development of countryman Sergei Bobrovsky in short order is foremost in mind.