Flyers will buy out Ilya Bryzgalov
Flyers will pay Bryz approximately $1.63 million for the next 14 years to not play for the team.
Despite serious internal debate, the Flyers have decided to part ways with goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
Bryzgalov's tumultuous, two-year tenure with the team will officially come to a close on Wednesday at 5 o'clock, when the NHL's compliance buyout window opens, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
"I met with Ilya this morning and informed him that we are going to exercise a compliance buyout of his contract," Holmgren said. "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 will pay Bryzgalov approximately $1.63 million for each of the next 14 years to not play for the team. With a push from Flyers chairman Ed Snider, Bryzgalov signed a 9-year, $51 million deal in June, 2011.
Bryzgalov, 33, will immediately become a free agent. Given his departure and mediocre statistics, it's unclear if he will earn another NHL contract.
Bryzgalov earned $10 million in 2011-12 and $6.5 million in 2012-13. He finished 48th in the league in save percentage (.900) last season, among goaltenders with at least 10 games played, and 45th in his first season with the team.
The Flyers are holding a 2:15 p.m. press conference to further discuss.
More coming.
DN Members only: VIDEO: Bryzgalov's 'humongous big' buyout.