Coyotes Ilya Bryzgalov could be on the move
May 9, 2011, 4:49 PM | Updated: 5:51 pm
The Phoenix Coyotes may not be on the move but their goalie Ilya Bryzgalov might be.
Philadelphia Inquirer writer Sam Carchidi suggests that the Philadelphia Flyers might pursue the netminder this offseason to help solidify a position that they struggled with in the playoffs.
It says here that Bobrovsky, the 22-year-old rookie, is a keeper despite his second-half dip, but he needs to be eased into the team’s plans. Signing Phoenix’s Ilya Bryzgalov, a soon-to-be free agent, would be the perfect complement to “Bob.” Bryzgalov is also Russian, and he would help Bobrovsky’s development, on and off the ice.
The Flyers will need to be creative to sign Bryzgalov, and it may mean that they can’t re-sign Leino, and that they have to move one of the high-priced defensemen to clear cap space.
Bryzgalov is already on record as saying he’d leave the organization if they moved to Winnipeg. With the team’s ownership situation still in flux, it wouldn’t be surprising if he at least entertained offers from clubs who may be able to offer him more money and a clearer future.
Whether he left them for the Flyers or any other franchise the loss would be larger than any the team suffered at the hands of the Red Wings. The Russian goaltender has been the heart and soul of the Coyotes, at least in the regular season, the last two years. He had a 78-40 record while stopping an impressive 92-percent of shots he faced in that time frame.
Ilya Bryzgalov usually makes the big saves for the Coyotes. It may be the franchises turn to make one by offering him a lucrative long term deal. That is, if the NHL can afford to.
