Bryzgalov to meet with Flyers' brass Thurs.
In a meeting that could shape the Flyers’ future, standout goalie Ilya Bryzgalov will be introduced to several team officials on Thursday.
Bryzgalov to meet with Flyers' brass Thurs.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
In a meeting that could shape the Flyers’ future, standout goalie Ilya Bryzgalov will be introduced to several team officials on Thursday.
Bryzgalov and his agent, Ritch Winter, will arrive in Philadelphia late Wednesday night and will meet with general manager Paul Holmgren, coach Peter Laviolette and goalie coach Jeff Reese, among others, the next day.
“We think it’s important that he talks with Jeff Reese,” Holmgren said on Tuesday.
The Flyers acquired the rights to Bryzgalov last week, sending minor-league winger/enforcer Matt Clackson and a third-round pick in 2012 to Phoenix. The Coyotes will also get a conditional pick if Bryzgalov signs with the Flyers.
Thursday will be the first time the Flyers’ brass has had a chance to meet with the colorful goalie, who turns 31 on June 22.
Holmgren had a recent phone conversation with Bryzgalov, and said he “sounded pretty excited” about playing for the Flyers.
The Flyers are optimistic about coming to terms with Bryzgalov before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Bryzgalov figures to get a five-year deal in the $27 million neighborhood
To sign the goalie and fit him under the cap, the Flyers will probably not be able to resign Ville Leino _ and figure to move one of their high-priced players, such as defenseman Matt Carle.
The Flyers, sources said, are open to trading “anyone,” but they would prefer to keep their offensive core together. Translation: They want to keep Jeff Carter unless they are overwhelmed by an offer. (So far, that hasn’t happened.)
If the Flyers sign Bryzgalov, they are expected to use Sergei Bobrovsky as his backup.
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Forward Tom Sestito, an enforcer who played with the Phantoms last season but could be with the Flyers in 2011-12, said on Twitter that he had signed a contract Tuesday.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com or on Twitter at BroadStBull.
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- The Flyers may have to move either Carle or Coburn since both will be UFAs at the end of next season. And our blue line will probably need help in the near future due to the ages of Kimmo and Prongs. If the Bryzgalof deal falls through maybe they could go after Kevin Bieska - he's a UFA after this year. Or maybe trade Carter for a high draft pick and get the young Swedish defensman, Adam Larsson, they say he'll be ready to play in the NHL right away....
I'd get rid of Versteeg....he's got nothing.
And all this for a goalie that was only 6 games over .500 at 36-30? Really? His other numbers match the goalies the Flyers already have. Not sure he's worth 6 mil a year to be honest. Even Luongo's new deal only averaged 5.3, although it's 10 ml this year...but he went 38-22.— scootch- Sign him poste haste- then the Flyers, for goalies, will have the Russian B-team. Great. Who do they unload? Carle and Versteeg, for starters. Shelley also. I agree keeping the offensive talent, unless someone offers a real blockbuster. But this goalie must be snared.— JosephL
- Gonna be real good if they trade Carle and Pronger can't start the season healthy. Can't wait to see Syvret, Bartulis or Gustafsson playing 20 minutes in the top four...stupid. You can't trade Carle to make room, because if you trade Carle, you need to adequately replace him in the line-up-and they can't do it without adding a guy near the same money.— JSaq
- Gotta be Carter. We'll still have the displeasure of seeing his gnarled mugpiece down in Sea Isle but at least we wont have to watch him shoot pucks into the stands or straight into a goalies mask when the season is on the line. Please listen to the fans Homer!— taintaugustine
- Ville yes, Versteeg, NO, NO,a thousand times NO!— fgomarty
- It's best to sign Leino and lose Versteeg and perhaps Carle. They'll also free up cap space by losing Carcillo, and banishing Michael Leighton forever in the AHL. I wouldn't be surprised if Danny Briere re-works his contract to free up a few dollars for the Flyers - I think he wants to win a Cup that much and knows age-wide he's running out of time.
Still, all of this might not land Bryz. I still think that Tomas Voukon is a better option. I bet if the Flyers made a move for him, he'd take less money than Bryz. Voukon's always been a great goalie on bad teams.— dchockey - 5 years at $27 mil? Bryz would then have a bigger cap hit than Fleury, Halak, Rinne, Thomas and Luongo. And you have to get rid of significant depth to way, way overpay him? No thanks.— e.p.r.
- Good goalies worth good money. He is a good goalie. He's been excellent for at least 3 years and even before that when he played for the Ducks.
If you do not want a decent goalie Flyers can always sign Emery, washed out Turco or Nabokov, Boucher, bring Esche from KHL or go after some other clown. Not like we haven't done this before.
— Nitroglycerin - I love all the childish armchair GMs...instead of spewing BS, why don't you sit back and wait and see how it plays out.
And even though I shouldn't, to westcoastguy, you say its settling on the "best of whats out there" as opposed to the "best goalie period"...first, Bryz is much better than "the best of whats out there", he is one of the best; second, just who do you believe is the "best period" and how would you go about getting him ???
Scootch - you talk records but the NHL is not just about Ws and Ls. Bryz earned 82 points for the Yotes with a mediocre team.. BobbieLou earned 85 with one of the best teams, if not the best...pretty damn even if you ask me.— bsbullie - Let me sum it up... this team has problems. If your not gonna keep Leino you should have frigin traded him for something when you had the chance. It doesn't take the white wizard to know that the Flyers were not going to win the cup with last years goalies...I asked Seravali in March on one of his chats...never got a reply. So now can I get an answer? Who stays and who goes? One thing is for sure...money can buy a two-bit run at the cup every year.— michaelthegreat
- please get rid of the 1970's rubbish that is the Flyers front office...PLEASE! Carts...Gotta go...Harts....Gotta go...Carle...gotta go..mix in some depth forwards and you have a start...but, the head of the snake needs to be chopped off, i.e. management!— The Wanker
- Sounds like they already worked out a deal. You don't bring in people to meet team representatives if nothing's been agreed to yet. Just saying.— Kanayd
- Thy need to do this to get started on revamping the team a bit. And this would be a great place to build around.— bossrjc
- ugh...so no playoff caliber goalie next year or the next 5 years. STICK WITH BOB. And no trading Carter unless the offer is overwhelming??? Well, everyone else in the league already knows that Carter. like Bryz, is a playoff bust, so no one will want him either. Ville, one of the few who performs in the playoffs, will be gone. No Cup next year.— cnova000
