The sun rises, the sun sets, and we are another day closer to losing one of the best goaltenders in the league. A common mistake is being made every day, that goaltending sensation Ilya Bryzgalov is going to be a Flyers goaltender in 2011-2012.
Inaccurate.
The Flyers traded one of those orange Gatorade containers and a pair of Chris Pronger game used sticks for the rights to Bryzgalov. As of today, Ilya is a player on the Philadelphia Flyers. And as of July 1st, Ilya will no longer be in Black and Orange. Bryza-howdoyoupronouncethat was traded by the Phoneix Coyotes to the Flyers, because the Coyotes knew they had zero chance to resign him. And lets be real, who wouldn't want to have one of Chris Pronger's 6 foot long sticks??
Basically, Phoneix got the two draft picks and scrub for nothing. Flyers gave away those two picks and whoever just so they could sit down and try and negotiate a contract with Ilya before any other teams had the chance to. He will still enter the NHL free agency market on July 1st at 12pm EST. And by 2pm on July 1st, he could be on the New York Islanders.
Flyers are famous for these kind of deals long after the season ended. In what's regarded as one of the first deals like this in history, Flyers traded some odds and ends to Nashville Predators for the rights of Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnall, before the two players became free agents, they were signed to the Philadelphia Flyers. Flyers also did this for the rights to Dan Hamhuis, and in which there never was a deal signed, the Flyers basically threw away Ryan Parent to have a couple weeks of negotiation with Hamhuis.
The situation is different for the Flyers and Ilya (sorry i'm to lazy to go check his spelling every time). Ilya has showed great interest in the Flyers organization and the city of Philadelphia (which Hamhuis didn't).
The only concern swirling around Philly, is how could they afford this guy? Reality is, a guy like Jeff Carter, Scott Hartnall, Chris Pronger, or (yikes) Mike Richards may be traded away for meaningless draft picks, so they could fit a guy like Ilya's contract could be held under the salary cap.
I am still furious that the Flyers haven't worked out a deal with Villie Leino, who will become a free agent, and is close to being gone. I think that's a great young talent who will be a solid 2nd liner in the league for quite some time. But there's guys like him, Boucher, Nodl, and Carcillo who are likley not coming back to Philadelphia next year. Not big name big dollar guys freeing up salary cap space. Flyers must also consider that JVR's contract will be up after next season, and they can not sign him, Ilya, and keep the big name big dollar guys we currently have on the roster.
It's safe to say the Flyers MUST have a major shake up to afford Ilya Bryzgalov. If they don't, then your opening day starter may very well be Bob. Flyers have too many forwards, not enough defense, and a 22 year old + 2 AHL Goaltenders. Defense wins championships.
Every day tho, we move one day closer to losing Ilya. Flyers pick him up, and your looking at one hell of a good team next year.
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