Bryz fed up with scrutiny
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Bryz fed up with scrutiny
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov refused to talk to reporters during the team's postseason media day Thursday, but he candidly told a Russian newspaper he was fed up with the scrutiny he was under during his first year with the club.
"What I lived through this season I wouldn't wish to an enemy," he said to reporter Natalia Bragilevskaya of SovSport. ". . . I need to keep working. I understand the fans. They paid their money and want the show. But many forget that we are not robots, but living people. We have feelings, worries."
The comments were translated and posted on Puck Daddy at Yahoo.
Bryzgalov had an up-and-down first season with the Flyers, and he allowed a brutal goal - it proved to be the game-winner - as the Flyers were eliminated by New Jersey, 3-1, in Game 5 of the conference semifinals Tuesday.
"I got very tired this season, to be honest," he said. ". . . Now I know what it's like to be a goaltender in Philadelphia. Maybe from the outside it looks like there's nothing to it. You only realize it on your own."
On the whole, Bryzgalov played well in the New Jersey series.
"It's easy to turn away when the club is going through tough times," he said. "But if you're wearing orange sweaters, then support Philadelphia until the very end! Don't denounce your team. There won't be a different one. And I know that the Flyers have dedicated fans who understand hockey and will always support."
Bryzgalov said he gained "invaluable experience" this season that was "difficult to describe with words. It is a psychology, a new view on life."
Asked about the scrutiny he was under in Philadelphia, Bryzgalov said, "It is difficult" and that "my face is everywhere. Everyone is talking about me. 'Bryzgalov played well,' 'Philadelphia won, but Bryz made a mistake again,' 'Yes, he wasn't scored against but could have been'. . . Guys, but who doesn't make mistakes? And how many [pucks] did I catch before then? But very few notice that. People are so concentrated on the negative that they only see the bad in me. But I think you need to be kinder to each other."
Bryzgalov, who has eight years left on a $51 million deal, said he has never considered asking to be traded.
"I will not give in when facing difficulties," he said. "I have eight more years to work under my contract with Philadelphia. If I am criticized, then I will endure it. You can't tie up people's tongues. It is their right to let the emotions go."
Oddly, Bryzgalov said he wanted to make sure the fans knew he wasn't being critical of them.
Comments (43)
Whirlwind went to his head screwed up his focus - big contract, new team, new media attention - then the winter classic - HBO following him around - the universe and no one has let go of that comment- finally the dust settles after the winter classic and he plays well - got some focus - but then the playoffs and hype city again - well its all under his belt now - go home- go away gain some perspective and then start fresh next year and just play within yourself - you don't need to say anything clever - just play well - keep your mouth shut. You see how Marty USED the media after game one - be smart kid. We're all rootin for you!— JourneyHome
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- If the NHL has an amnesty clause like the NBA did in their last CBA, Bryz is history. This is what happens when executives (re:Snyder) make personel decisions.— simanlee
- go do some bear hunting in the off season and clear your overpaid head. I love that he still has 95 years left on his contract and in year one, he is not the answer to the fact that the cryers don't have what it takes to win another cup. I love it.... enjoy golf cryers.— F_The_flyers
- Bryz just seems so lackadaisical in net. Very slow moving side to side or when pucks get by him then his head turns. He needs to get some urgency or seem like he is really trying and maybe folks would not be so critical. He needs to practice a whole lot more this offseason if he,wants to survive eight more years in Phila!— cu2ny
- Grow up Bryz & start earning your huge paycheck. Did you expect to just cruise through the year with no pressure? I predict that Bryz will be gone after year 2 of huge contract unless he guides the Flyers to the finals next year. He just may not have the mental toughness to make it in Philly.— ssiefert
A big wuss and coward - Carchidi, not Bryzgalov- Puck Daddy has the entire interview and this article as well as the other one Carchidi wrote is completely out of context. No wonder athletes in this town cannot stand the media.— OrangeCrush81
- http://www.orangeandblackpack.com/PenaltyBox/tabid/86/Article/364/bryzgalov-pours-his-heart-soul-and-of-course-philly-media-makes-him-the-bad-guy.aspx— shephardbd
- Hit the road. You're getting paid to deliver and to deal with the scrutiny. If you can't handle that then maybe it's time to go take all that money and start a zoo. This guy is a mental case.— Agrajag
- When you go into negotiations and demand to be the highest paid goalie in the league and turn in a mediocre season (at best!), expect to be scrutinized by the fans and the media. If he came in and signed a reasonable contract, he wouldn't be getting as much flak. Sorry Bryz, but you brought this on yourself with your lofty contract demands and inconsistent play.— philly57
- the best part about this is that the media is still talking smack on the guy. this place drives me mad.— azguz
- Would some liberal give the guy a hug? He needs some "bools"...— jet2012
- Sam frankly if I was Bryz I would storngly advise you never to ask a question. Your criticism of Bryz far outweighs that of the other writers. I do not know what you have against the guy, but you put everything in quotes that tried to make him seem like he was critisizing the fans, that he really doens't like the fans, and that he really doesn't want to be here, and then when he clarifies that he does not want this to seem ike he is critisizing the fansyou don't qupte him on that. This is not the first time you've spun his words to make him look foolish. I read your article because it sometimes provides simple facts that are news, but anything you add your opinion to is pretty rotten jouranlism. If I did a report on your career every night, it would turn out about just as bad on a day to day basis as Bryz's first season here in Philadelphia. My advice: do better. For once put out a piece that makes people say wow, I actually learned something knew from Sam today.— roseyx0129
- Maybe Phil Sheridan needs to write yet another article that demonstrates he knows nothing about hockey other than the goalie's name who he then blames for giving up goals and losing the game. Don't worry Bryz.— HeelYes
- It's axiomatic in hockey that the way to beat a great goalie is to beat his defense. The best goalie in the world couldn't stop some of the chances the Flyers gave up. For an old hockey town like Philly, it's amazing how many in the media will pin goat horns on one star for one mistake when the TEAM played poorly around him for the whole game. Remember that Eagles game last year when the QB got them to the fourth quarter with a two-score lead and the defense gave it away? The next day, the papers were full of garbage about how the QB didn't score enough (a measly 35 points as I recall). Philly fans and media need to grow up and understand these are TEAM games the way they do in New York. Clarkson's goal wouldn't have mattered if the TEAM had played better and scored more than once or twice. Read the interviews -- the players know the Devils outplayed them as a TEAM.— paulbg
- Everyone saw what Bryz can do when the team is playing focused defensively in front of him. The only time they did that was the month of March, and Bryz was the best player in the league. Give him support, help keep his confidence up, and this guy will be a rock. Not unlike most other goalies in the league. It is a team game afterall.— vvvmetallicavvv
- Just retire dude... best move for everyone involved— BuddyBall92
- It's impossible for him here now, because you all expect 82-0-0 with a 1.000 save % and a 0.00 GAA. The defense needs to be upgraded and Bryzgalov will be fine. It's so short-sighted to say it's the goalie's fault. And, um, WEEEE didn't sign him to this contract, the Flyers did. The minute your championship lives are mistake-free, then you can cast stones against this poor guy. He's trying his heart out out there for YOU. He will be much better next year.— seaonasdad
- I wish these lazy Philly reporters (which includes all of them other than Sheil) would do just an once or two of research to enable us to put things into a clearer perspective, but they just don't seem to care enough.
Since this article provided only meaningless fluff I went to nhl.com and easily learned that Bryz had the 37th worst GAA in the NHL this year. There were 3 goalies who had more starts and a worse GAA than he, but nearly all teams had more effective goaltending, especially when you take into account the financial investment.
I think our reporters owe us a better job of providing factual info, which is what they are paid to do, and that Bryz ought to take a look in the mitrror before he starts complaining about how others respond to his work performance. He was probably the worst goaltending investment in the NHL this year, and that is not our fault. Be a man and stand accountable.
Vincente in SC
— az_xplorer - A badass Flyers team chased the Russians off the ice and when they decided to give one $51M he acts like...a progressive American urging the working people to remember he has feelings. RIP, Ronald Reagan.— 5280philly
- I think Bryz is an OK person, but that being said he knew what he was getting into when he came to Philadelphia. It's an intense hockey market that wants a cup badly. When you sign the massive contract he signed you're going to be under more intense scrutiny. If he was signed to a more reasonable contract I don't see the scrutiny being this bad. That being said his first season was overall no better than pedestrian. Too many soft goals that killed them in the regular season and the playoffs. Yes the defense was bad, but as a franchise goalie you are expected to steal a few games. He stole no playoff games. I will give it to him that he played passably in the Devils series overall, but he was not clutch at all. Biggest difference between the goalies in the NJ series broduer makes the big save at the key moments, Bryz does not...see the clarkson goal in game 5.— jvmiii88
- He should have just spoken in cliches and made fun of the reporters. He'd be a hero. At least that worked for Chris Pronger.— Hexy4GM
- What I mean is that for 10-15 years you can't tell me every goalie the team's had has been bad. Look at Washington, may be going to conference finals with a third string goalie. I don't know what the answer is, but I just think its sometimes too easy to blame the goal tender. Maybe there are other issues surrounding the team that need to be addressed.— RU95
- the flyers are TERRIBLE and its HILARIOUS— AlexSp
- You're getting paid over $5 million/year. Leave your mental problems in the locker room and do your job.— stinky_pete
- my complete distrust of eastern european hockey players is well documented here would love to give him benefit of doubt for flyers sake alone but sadly i cannot yes their defence was awful forwards and dmen but what we saw on clarckson's gw goal did not even shock us give half back and b on your way roenicke said it finally and best after gm5 that these players have to b held accountable i do wonder what ru95 was getting at w/his 'maybe it's not really the goalies' wtf— pittsvilleflyer
- He thinks is was bad this year, he still has seven more 2 go! He'll be a nervous wreck b4 his contract is up playing for u Flyers fans, lol!— gmuny2002
- Just knock it off ya hack...— MBFlyerfan
- Yeah! Only pulled about 15Mil this year.— quigly46
- It's got to be hard to make an adjustment from a small market team to Philly. I think this guy will be okay, just needed some time to settle in. He's a little quirky and everyone makes fun of him because of his interviews. I could care less what he talks about as long as he works hard and makes an attempt to get better and win. Philly's had a history of "problems" with goalies, maybe it's not really the goalies (and we've had many) that's been the problem. Keep your head up Bryz!— RU95
- This guy is a strange ranger, even for a goalie. I have an idea: just give the money back; then there's no scrutiny or pressure!— dasher
- Yeah, we all know how Charidi and others go after people. The media attacked this guy all year long, and give him no time to adjust from going to a non-hockey market to a die-hard market. I wouldn't want to talk to you guys either, especially when you knee-cap people in the papers— flyersfan89
- Toto, I don't think were in Kansas anymore! Grow a pair, learn some standard answers to give reporters, work hard, be a good teammate and it will all work out.— NYPHILLYPHAN
Yo, Bryz! It could be worse. I remember back in the days when Homer was coaching the Flyers and the team was struggling....The fans started chanting "Paul must go!" Bryz has 51 million reasons not to be fed up. Hopefully Homer can land another nasty defenseman to compliment Grossmann and make our goalie's life a little easier...
- This comment has been deleted.— mrjetsondc420
Sidney Crosby Is a Whiner:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/131691-sidney-crosby-is-a-whiner
Biggest Whiners in Sports History - Sidney Crosby
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/664774-the-50-biggest-whiners-in-sports-history/page/39- I give credit where it's warranted. Bryz is a great person, has a great sense of humor, and he had an amazing run in March. He also kept us in every game during the Devils series. However, the rest of the year he sucked, and the energy deflated when he shot that puck off Clarkson. I'm not blaming him for losing the series, but he certainly didn't steal a single game for us all year. For what he's being paid- that's unacceptable. Philly is a hard city to play in and we demand excellence. We don't always get it, but we give you a free pass if you at least play with heart and show up most of the time. Bryz will not last 2 more years in this city much less the remainder of his contract if he doesn't turn it around and don't be surprised if he requests a trade if this continues through next year. He got by in Phoenix because they have about 10 fans there, but in a city like this were many of us bleed orange...let's just say he needs to step up or get out. But like I said, he's a nice guy and has a great sense of humor. I just don't think his skin is thick enough to survive playing in this city, which is a shame because I like him but as usual we need a goalie and he wasn't the answer.— Fly Guy
- I kind of feel bad for the guy, but it still doesn't make him a great goaltender.— Penfold18
This is a case where if you don't post the whole interview it looks out of context. Sam Carchidi - FAIL
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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