The goalie melodrama in Philadelphia has taken yet another twist as the Flyers have announced that they will utilize one of their compliance buyouts on netminder Ilya Bryzgalov.
The team will rid itself of the final seven years of the Russian netminder's nine-year deal worth $5.6 million annually. Philadelphia will now have to pay Bryzgalov the remaining $23 million he is owed over the next 14 years or two-thirds of the remaining $34.5 million; however his $5.667 million cap hit will no longer hinder the team's ability maneuver the diminish salary cap.
"I met with Ilya this morning and informed him that we are going to exercise a compliance buyout of his contract," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren stated. "This was a very difficult business decision to make for us and we want to thank Ilya for his time here and wish him all the best moving forward."
The Flyers have now utilized both of their compliance buyouts under the new collective bargaining agreement; the other was utilized on forward Danny Briere. With the two buyouts, the Flyers have opened up approximately $12.17 million dollars in cap space.
Bryzgalov had a decent 2011-12 season in his first year with the Flyers and posted a 33-16-7 record to go along with a 2.48 GAA and .909 save percentage. He led the team to the second round of the playoffs but imploded against the New Jersey Devils. In 2012-13, he played 40 games and recorded 19 wins, 17 losses, and three overtime defeats. He allowed an average of 2.79 goals per game and stopped only 90.0 percent of the shots he faced; the Flyers missed the postseason.
Now Philadelphia will have to look to rebuild its crease. Steve Mason is currently the only professional backstopper with the Flyers. However, since his rookie season in 2008-09, Mason has been a below-average goalkeeper that suffers from inconsistency. The Flyers used to employ reigning Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky, but figured that he would not develop properly behind Bryzgalov. The Flyers also utilized Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton as their top options during their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010.
The Flyers were rumored to have interest in former Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier; the young goalie was recently traded to Toronto. The Flyers could look to sign a free agent or make a radical trade for Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
