Ovechkin: Bryz to Philly is "not very nice"
Daily News Flyers blog
Ovechkin: Bryz to Philly is "not very nice"
Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin is busy spending his last days of summer in Moscow before heading back to North America for the start of another season.
But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t kept up on the NHL’s summer happenings – particularly in net.
Ovechkin’s Capitals made the steal of the summer when they signed free agent Tomas Vokoun to a one-year deal worth just $1.5 million. Vokoun was the second-best available goaltender behind Ilya Bryzgalov, who signed here in Philadelphia for a full $49.5 million more.
(In fact, as our friends at BroadStreetHockey.com pointed out, Vokoun’s career even-strength save percentage is .919, just a shade lower than Bryzgalov’s .931)
The Capitals then traded 23-year-old Semyon Varlamov, one of Ovechkin’s close friends, to Colorado in exchange for first and second round picks.
We reported in July that it very well could have been the Flyers and not the Capitals that sent their young Russian goalie to the Avalanche in order to restock their prospect cupboard.
Ovechkin said yesterday that “Our GM George McPhee did everything right.”
But that doesn’t mean Ovechkin thinks facing the Flyers will be any easier this season. In an interview with Yahoo’s Puck Daddy, Ovechkin sounded disappointed that Bryzgalov went to a conference rival.
“Yes, it’s not very nice,” Ovechkin said. “It’s going to be more difficult to score against the Flyers now.
“But I was shocked when the Flyers traded Jeff Carter and captain Mike Richards. And then Bryz came over. He came to a good team that plays tough, defensive hockey.”
Bryzgalov would have played in a charity game to support deaf and blind children in Moscow this week with Ovechkin and Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk if he was not already in Philadelphia preparing for training camp, which opens on Sept. 17 in Voorhees.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
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The Caps will be laughing all the way to the bank while Holmgren's trying to unload Bryzgalov's salary in 2 years.- Nice show of respect from OV. I really really REALLY can't wait for this season to start already!— Kanayd
- Ovechkin is a tough player and will throw his body around. He's a gamer. Would be the ultimate Flyer.— broadstreetbullynyc
- I'd rather have Vokoun and some offense/cap space.— scootch
- Do you realize that this new goalie's career save percentage is slightly above Boucher's career save percentage? It comes out to about one more save every 5 games. He is going to make little difference in the standings or in the playoffs unfortunately. While important goalie is about the most over rated position in sports except for maybe closer in baseball.— Go Flyers
- is bryz going to let that short side weak goal that leighton let in,in the cup finals against patrick kane? unlikely. — Reality2011*
- Nah, he won't let in another like that Kane goal from the faceoff circle. He'll let in another by that scoring powerhouse, Dan Cleary, from BEHIND the goal line instead. You know, the GWG @13:39 of Game 4 last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dGjEkc_qrQ& Time to get over the Leighton thing.
— icarus - It would be rather nice to see Ovechkin in orange and black... I am a bit concerned about the Flyers scoring capability after the Carter and Richards trades. I thought Homer did the right thing, but there are holes to be filled after a 40 and a 20-30 goal scorer. 2011-12 may very well end up being a lost year.— Ruffles
- Go Flyers, you are amateur if you think bryz is not a huge improvement on bouch.— mrkmcc
- I am sure we will get Ovi when he turns old - ala Hawerchuck, Coffey, Kevin Stevens, Adam Oates, Amonte,....— gob1234
- gob1234- Don't forget THIS YEAR'S retread in Jagr. Now that he is older, he'll REALLY take a lot of games off, especially in Laviolette's system.— mrjarn
Comment removed.- Ovie needs to come here !! guy plays hard every night and wants to win BAD......— ferrisbueller
- JVR was resigned to a 6 year 4.25..— Nitroglycerin
- @blackgirlsaresexy, I agree. These Russians players Flyers management signed for the past 36 years are getting on my last nerve.
— Nitroglycerin
