Flyers Sign Ilya Bryzgalov to Nine-Year Contract

The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Thursday that they have signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year contract worth $51 million. The announcement came on the same day that the team made a pair of blockbuster trades, sending Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings, in order to get the 31-year-old netminder signed to a long-term deal. The contract will average out to $5.67 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Flyers acquired the negotiating rights to Bryzgalov on June 7 from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Matt Clackson, Philadelphia's third round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, and a conditional draft pick. In 68 games last season with the Coyotes, Bryzgalov posted a 36-20-10 record, seven shutouts, a 2.48 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. It's not a bad signing for the Flyers, as Bryzgalov will give the team the solid starting goaltender they have been seeking for a few seasons now. He will bring lots of veteran depth, size, and talent in goal for the team. However, the contract is a bit lengthy and it cost Philadelphia their top two forwards to facilitate the signing. They would have been better off signing Bryzgalov to an affordable short-term contract to see if he would work out with the team and move some other more expendable players rather than Richards and Carter. The team likely won't be as strong offensively next season as they were in 2010-11, as Simmonds and Voracek won't replace the offensive output of Richards and Carter. However, given the young talent received in the two trades, the Flyers could be a strong team again offensively in just a couple seasons.

Flyers Acquire Negotiating Rights to Ilya Bryzgalov

The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Tuesday night that they have acquired the negotiating rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for the negotiating rights to right wing Matt Clackson, Philadelphia's third-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, and a conditional draft pick. The conditional pick will likely depend on whether the Flyers sign Bryzgalov to a contract or not. The move will now give Philadelphia negotiating rights to a new contract with the 30-year-old Russian goaltender until he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Coyotes will have the same opportunity with Clackson, as he will be a Group Six unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 68 games this past season with the Coyotes, Bryzgalov posted a 36-20-10 record, seven shutouts, a 2.48 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. Clackson appeared in 62 games this past season with Adirondack of the AHL, scoring one goal and three assists for four points and 118 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Not a bad trade for the Flyers if they can get Bryzgalov signed before July 1, as he will bring lots of depth, size, and talent in goal to the team. However, signing him to a contract will likely create salary cap problems for the team, which could require a trade to solve the problem. Also, signing Bryzgalov would make him their starting goalie, which will push Sergei Bobrovsky down the depth chart. It is possible Philadelphia could bring in Bryzgalov short-term to serve as a mentor to Bobrovsky so that he could potentially take over the starter's position in a couple seasons, but if he is signed long-term, it could result in an eventual trade of Bobrovsky down the road. Only time will tell if the Flyers will actually sign Bryzgalov or let him hit the free agent market on July 1. As for the Coyotes, if they sign Clackson, he will bring lots of grit and toughness to their lineup, but he doesn't really have a lot of offensive upside. Only time will tell if Phoenix will sign him to a contract.