Bryz leaving Russian team
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Bryz leaving Russian team
Ilya Bryzgalov has always been confident in his beliefs. Now, he has money riding on them.
According to a report from Russian news outlet RSport.RU, Bryzgalov opted out of his contract with his Russian team, CSKA Moscow, citing the end of the NHL lockout as his reason for leaving.
Bryzgalov was quoted by Russian journalist Ruslan Salikhov as saying "I quit CSKA because lockout is ending." Bryzgalov disputed the accuracy of the Russian reports with a tweet, saying he did "not make any comments like that." He also included a "smiley face" emoticon at the end of that statement. Salikhov later retracted the quote.
When asked to clarify the comments reported by Russian media, Bryzgalov did not immediately respond.
Regardless of his reason for leaving, the Flyers were likely hoping Bryzgalov would hang on just a bit longer - even if the lockout really is ending. Bryzgalov, 32, withdrew from CSKA Moscow - Russia’s famed Central Red Army franchise - as he was beginning to play his best hockey since March.
After a shaky start to the season, in which he was at times scratched as CSKA’s third goaltender, Bryzgalov strung together 4 or 5 straight strong starts over the last couple weeks. Bryzgalov pushed his record above .500 for the first time (6-5-0), to go with an impressive 2.13 goals against-average and .913 save percentage.
In his most recent start, Bryzgalov helped CSKA outlast former Flyers teammate Sergei Bobrovsky’s team in overtime.
Bryzgalov’s run in Mother Russia was full of laughs - from falling down randomly in the crease during a game to dressing in a Soviet-era astronaut suit for a tour of a space station - but now appears to be coming to an end. There was reported mutual friction between Bryzgalov and the CSKA franchise, which is managed by former NHL star Sergei Federov. Bryzgalov was unhappy as the team's 3rd goaltender; CSKA was not thrilled with both his performance and attitude.
Bryzgalov "repeatedly stressed himself" that his relationship with CSKA was only temporary.
No word yet on when Bryzgalov will be returning to North America. In Bryzgalov's defense, there have been numerous reports of messages to team staff and referees to be prepared for a return to action in mid-January. Wayne Simmonds, Matt Read, and Claude Giroux have all returned from their adventures in Europe.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Bryz...he's the Rocket Man, burning out his fuse up here alone.— Romus- Do we have to let him back in? Can't they bar his re-entry as a threat to national security? At least Philly security?
— backhand - Bryz... Burning bridges everywhere he goes.— zeke128
- please stay,,,you re not welcome here— hardball
- please stay,,,you re not welcome here— hardball
- please stay,,,you re not welcome here— hardball
- Hope he's right here...this town needs a team that has a chance to succeed. The Eagles, Phils, and Sixers all SUCK!— Phillyfan666
- "Bryzgalov strung together 4 or 5 straight strong starts over the last couple weeks". Was it 4 or was it 5? What kind of reporting is this?— 1980
- Bryz have ya considered China? When it comes to the cold war you are a rocket popsicle. Neither side wants to lay claim to you and sooner or later comes another on of your melt downs. C'mon back Bryz, things been lousy since we last saw ya, and comrade....I don't think I can last the winter on just Sixer basketball.— rockinrob
"0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:26 PM, 12/30/2012
"Bryzgalov strung together 4 or 5 straight strong starts over the last couple weeks". Was it 4 or was it 5? What kind of reporting is this?
— 1980
"
It's Frank Seravalli, what did you expect?— Fman68- Please remove this. Bryzgalov just put on his own twitter account that this story is BS..
"This article is complete BS, i did not make any comments like that:-)Bryz leaves Russia because "lockout is ending""— hdtv267 - Anyone have an update of Claude Giroux? I know he came back to N.A. due to a "neck injury". However, it's pretty obvious to me, he was concussed. He stayed off the ice too long for a neck injury. Last I heard, he just started skating, that was about 2 weeks ago.— Scattamoosh
- Anyone have an update of Claude Giroux? I know he came back to N.A. due to a "neck injury". However, it's pretty obvious to me, he was concussed. He stayed off the ice too long for a neck injury. Last I heard, he just started skating, that was about 2 weeks ago.— Scattamoosh
- Anyone have an update of Claude Giroux? I know he came back to N.A. due to a "neck injury". However, it's pretty obvious to me, he was concussed. He stayed off the ice too long for a neck injury. Last I heard, he just started skating, that was about 2 weeks ago.— Scattamoosh
- Wish the loser would stay in Russia.— Pete60
- Word is Giroux has a whiplash and concussion, sounds like Crosby's injury.— easy
- A nine year contract, $51 million, and this guy is this team's third-string goalie???? Only the Flyers could sign a third string goalie and pay him that much until he's 40 years old.— Vomit Man #1
- God, I hope he's right (about the lock out). This would be great news since there really isn't much to watch on the Philly professional sport side.— meteo30
- He's got a what? $52M contract, you think he's going to stay over there? We're— PhillySubsMac
- We're...stuck with him and his antics. It would be a lot better for us and him if he'd stop the puck, too.— PhillySubsMac
- Reports that I have heard and read (and they are numerous) is that the Flyers can't stand "Mr. Universe".— mrjarn
- Four or five good games, huh? That sounds like what he had for the Flyers last year.— Philly Born
- Seriously, kiss the season goodbye. It will be a mediocre year for the Flyers and hopefully Holmer's awful moves will cost the entire coaching and scouting team their jobs. At some point, we'll nab one of Bowman's grandkids, cousins, or off spring to draft us a great goalie and build this franchise back up. We've finally got an amazing group of forwards with legs, speed, and grit, yet probably have the worst D-goalie combo in years.— MichaelZoe
- Ugh, Leighton is our backup goalie. How about "Oliver Lauridsen?" This kid looks like he's off to a good start with the Phantoms. Big, mobile, tough, solid D man and big body in front of the net? Young. Kimmo won't last the season, Grossman had a bad concussion, and Mezaros is coming back from surgery. If they play "great", the unit will be solid with Schenn and the youngsters filling in. If 2-3 of them go down, we're looking at a looooong 48 games with Brzyg, Leighton, and Gufstason on the blue line.— MichaelZoe
- With a shortened season, any team that starts off hot will make it. Could be interesting, assuming they even play this year. I'd say offer a contract to the kid on the Russian team that outplayed Bryz. He's apparently better and younger than Bryz. He looked good on paper but he just didn't cut it here. Maybe it was first year jitters, playing in a town that actually watches and pays attention to hockey but I expected better his first year out even with a new team.— ena1977
- the fans should not go to games for 1 month. protest the missed games. show some balls once.— rcsports
- Not knocking the KHL, but compared to the NHL it's a second rate league. If Bryz is only a third string goalie and still can't manage to get above .500 until just before he leaves...I don't have much faith in him on the Flyers. I don't know about the rest of you but I'm praying hard for an amnesty clause so we aren't stuck with him during the prime years of Giroux, Schenn, etc. At least with Leighton you know the guy sucks and can make up for it by playing stronger D. You depend on a guy like Bryz and you're asking for trouble.— Fly Guy
