Oh. Define big.
- Scoob

Does the Tim Thomas deal count?

I'd have replaced him with Bobrovsky. He may not be any better than Bryz at this time but he's not any worse either :p. He's 9 years younger and improving with a much friendlier cap hit. I'd rather take my chances with a 24 year old improving rather than a 31 year old . Then again the Ducks just signed a 30 year old rookie goaltender to a pricy 2 year extension so who knows.

Realistically though I think the Flyers have to stick with Bryz the next few years, boom or bust at this point. Bryz is a decent tender when he's on a good defensive team (he's played with All-Stars on defense up until he joined the Flyers) but he's simply not a tender who can carry a poor defensive team.
- Flyers_01

Bobrovsky is a talented kid, and had Laviolette handled him better, it's possible he'd develop into a good solid starter.

However, everytime Bob was given a shot to win the job, he'd start allowing soft goals. He's done it in Columbus, too. He's had games where you see him committing robbery left and right, then getting beat five hole on an unscreened shot from a 4th liner.

Who was the last one the Flyers had? Sean Burke? Jeff Hackett? Or one of the ones they used as a starter?
- Jsaquella

Sadly, their starters aren't much different from solid vet backups...

please god no
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I expressed before that against teams that are blanketing in their defensive play or grind out wins he is ineffective, hence the last two playoff losses to Nj and Boston. If his contract wasn't so huge I'd rather keep him. IF they can get some value in a trade fine but otherwise might as well ride it out unless they need the space to sign G and co.
- JoeRussomanno

They'll need the space. You can't just pay a guy money like that for what he's bringing to the ice. It's entering Gomez territory.

SCOUTING REPORT
Assets: His reflexes are first-rate and cat-like. Plays with supreme confidence when tending goal. Can steal a game all on his own, and is also capable of shaking off bad goals.
Flaws: Needs to play with more focus, so as to diminish the number of bad goals allowed. Can get into slumps where he starts fighting the puck. Lacks consistency, overall.
Career Potential: Talented goaltender with good upside.

How much would you pay to extricate him from LA?
How much do you think LA would ask?

Edit: Now add that he's 24, inexperienced, and would be playing in not-so-goalie-friendly Philly.
- Scoob

Those flaws are pretty much what all the Bryz haters use against him. Funny how that worked out.

please god no
- Don'tForgetTocchet

And I specifically asked you how you'd replace Bryzgalov. Since you can't even attempt to answer that simple question, it's obvious you're not worth my time or attention
- Jsaquella

Unless he is great next season, not just good, the Flyers need to buy him out in 2014 and go with the best available alternative. They signed him to a stupidly long contract, and there's just no way he is going to be worth a 5.67m cap hit in the last few years of this decade.

Bobrovsky is a talented kid, and had Laviolette handled him better, it's possible he'd develop into a good solid starter.

However, everytime Bob was given a shot to win the job, he'd start allowing soft goals. He's done it in Columbus, too. He's had games where you see him committing robbery left and right, then getting beat five hole on an unscreened shot from a 4th liner.
- Jsaquella

A Bob shutout

I didn't because others have already answered with Bernier...
- phillydentist

And I went into detail about reservations about him. I'm not comfortable trading a possible lottery pick for a guy with 24 games of NHL experience that has had consistency issue of his own.

The Kings are demanding a premium for him and he's unproven. If he falters, you're forced to go out and give big money to another veteran.

where did you find this?
- JoeRussomanno

The Daily News/Inq column by Marcus Hayes on JVRs return last night.

I always read Marcus Hayes when he writes about hockey because the only thing he knows about hockey is the insider gossip crap he hears around the beat. He'll put stuff in print that other writers just cackle to each other about. Makes him feel important and amuses me.

Does the Tim Thomas deal count?
- Lexington Flyer

Apparently not.

Unless he is great next season, not just good, the Flyers need to buy him out in 2014 and go with the best available alternative. They signed him to a stupidly long contract, and there's just no way he is going to be worth a 5.67m cap hit in the last few years of this decade.
- Feanor

and like Jsaq is saying, what if the best available alternative is as equally priced and not as good? THen what?

The Daily News/Inq column by Marcus Hayes on JVRs return last night.

I always read Marcus Hayes when he writes about hockey because the only thing he knows about hockey is the insider gossip crap he hears around the beat. He'll put stuff in print that other writers just cackle to each other about. Makes him feel important and amuses me.
- mayorofangrytown

sigh... and here I thought you were quoting a random leafs fan...

A Bob shutout
- NickTheKid87

two goals allowed?

Unless he is great next season, not just good, the Flyers need to buy him out in 2014 and go with the best available alternative. They signed him to a stupidly long contract, and there's just no way he is going to be worth a 5.67m cap hit in the last few years of this decade.
- Feanor

The way he has played lately, no, he's not. But neither is Jimmy Howard or Nicklas Backstrom, who are the FA options to replace him. One could say Mike Smith, but he's had most of his success behind the Tippett system. Hard to say he'd be vastly better in Philly than Bryz.

I'm also fine with going the young guy route. But I can't see trading a lottery pick for an untested kid

and like Jsaq is saying, what if the best available alternative is as equally priced and not as good? THen what?
- JoeRussomanno

I think he wants his cake and to eat it too. To have a guy that's going to put up all star numbers but get paid $3 million a year for 5 years in his prime. That ain't happin'.

and like Jsaq is saying, what if the best available alternative is as equally priced and not as good? THen what?
- JoeRussomanno

What other goalie in 2014 will be 34 with six years left on a $5.67m a year contract?

The Kings are demanding a premium for him and he's unproven. If he falters, you're forced to go out and give big money to another veteran.
- Jsaquella

And that's fine as long as you don't sign that vet to a 9 yr deal.

They are far from guarantees and could end up struggling. It's a gamble no matter how you slice it.
- NickTheKid87

Well as a whole bryz has shown he can play pretty good pretty average and pretty terrible so is he worth almost 6 mil cap hit for next 8 years gamble?

two goals allowed?
- JoeRussomanno

Yup. Huge save after huge save, 3-0 lead going into the third and he allows two softies in the last 10 minutes of the game.

Well as a whole bryz has shown he can play pretty good pretty average and pretty terrible so is he worth almost 6 mil cap hit for next 8 years gamble?
- SMS4016

It's a gamble but with better odds.

I think he wants his cake and to eat it too. To have a guy that's going to put up all star numbers but get paid $3 million a year for 5 years in his prime. That ain't happin'.
- NickTheKid87

I'm fine with a big cap hit for 5 yrs or less. Anything less than 9 years would be great.

does anyone think if we had Bobrovsky, Leighton, Boucher and I'll even go as far as Emery, in net last week against Pitt, that we win that game? I don't. Bryzgalov isn't probably even a top 10 goalie, but he's good enough to win big games. Most likely won't win a vezina but he's far from the issue which hinders this team.

I'm fine with a big cap hit for 5 yrs or less. Anything less than 9 years would be great.
- phillydentist

So if Bryz's deal was for 8 years you'd be ok with it?