According to both TSN’s Aaron Ward and the Winnipeg Sun’s Ken Wiebe, the Edmonton Oilers and Ilya Bryzgalov have a deal in place which will bring the infamous goalie back to the NHL.
UPDATE: Edmonton confirms, adding that it’s a one-year deal. According to John Shannon of Sportsnet, the deal is worth $1.75 million.
It’s worth noting that Bryzgalov is to be paid $23 million from the Flyers over the next 14 years, which works out to $1.6 million per year. As such, he’ll stand to made a tidy sum this season.
The move will also bring Bryzgalov back to the Western Conference, where he enjoyed the finest seasons of his career. Bryzgalov’s best campaign came during 2009-10 in Phoenix, when he posted career-best totals in victories (42), games (69), shutouts (eight), goals-against average (2.29) and save percentage (.920). He also helped the Coyotes set franchise records for wins and points in a season.
In what looks to be a related move, the Oilers have also signed goalie Chet Pickard to a minor-league deal. That’s worth mentioning because Pickard’s agent is Ritch Winter, the same guy that represents Bryzgalov.
The timing of the move -- which came shortly after Edmonton traded longtime defeseman Ladislav Smid to Calgary -- couldn’t be better, as the Oilers will play in Philadelphia tomorrow.
As a member of the Flyers, Bryzgalov won 52 regular season games in 99 games played. He struggled mightily last season, posting a 19-17-3-1 record with a .900 save percentage and 2.79 GAA.
As for what lies ahead in Edmonton...well, here’s a classic Bryzgalov interview in 2006 reacting to Chris Pronger’s return to the city:
The money quote?
“Here in November months is a minus-32. Could you imagine? It’s eight months in a year of snow.”
Ironically enough, Bryzgalov decided to join the Oilers on Nov. 8.