Are you going to ignore whatever doesn't fit your premise? How about in Anaheim? This is a player that has been a finalist for the Vezina Trophy.
- MJL

And he's gotten significantly worse since then.

Boston has Chara and Rask, but do they get as far without Patrice Bergeron?

Couturier could come close to that player and I wouldn't trade him. They have other assets they can move for a defensive upgrade.
- bradleyc4

The Bergeron/Coots comparison may be a bit of a stretch. He has a loooong way to go (skating, finishing, faceoffs) before their names can be mentioned in the same sentence. But if even comes close, he's a keeper.

The early Jordan Staal comparisons seem to be more realistic. And if he continues to develop in that direction, he'd still be a huge asset.

The Bergeron/Coots comparison may be a bit of a stretch. He has a loooong way to go (skating, finishing, faceoffs) before their names can be mentioned in the same sentence. But if even comes close, he's a keeper.

The early Jordan Staal comparisons seem to be more realistic. And if he continues to develop in that direction, he'd still be a huge asset.
- 77rams

The defensive value alone is worth keeping him. And he's not yet Bergeron defensively, but he's 20 years old and damned close.

i'd like to know exactly WHY bob mckenzie expects them to buy out bryz, despite what's been said by the organization. there are obviously plenty of reasons why they would, or why they wouldn't. i'm just wondering what he knows.

every move you make or don't make has risk involved. i wouldn't be angry if they moved on now, unless the moves the make to fill the void seem suspect - like bringing in bernier to compete with mason (which of course COULD work out, but appears to be a bad recipe). so far, his performance hasn't gone the way we all wanted, but i'm chalking more of it up to the circumstances around him than anything else. he has the ability to be an excellent goalie in this league...i'd like to see some patience of one more year with a clean slate, healthy bodies, a full season, and a commitment to team defense around him. if all that happens and he still plays unevenly then i would buy him out after next season. the only risk there is losing the option due to injury.

let's say he plays great, wire to wire, and the flyers lose in the 2nd or 3rd round, people will still blame him and still want him gone. just seems to be the way it is around here. even if you have the world's greatest goalie the team still has to have everything go it's way in order to win the cup. a very tall task indeed.

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to buy out Bryzgalov. For a short answer, his performance has not matched the commitment the Flyers have made to him, either financially or term.

However, as usual, there's more to consider with Bryzgalov. The play of the team in front of him, the way the coaching staff handled things,
- Jsaquella

If the problem weighs 100 lbs, imho, your first point weighs 30 lbs, and the edited second weighs 70lbs.

The Flyers, as things stand right now, are over $3mm OVER the salary cap for next season. So again we come to the level of play vs the cost. Bryzgalov, despite having stretches of absolute brilliance, has not been worth the cost.

The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to think they will do it, call it money reasons, and not mention the parts about how the rest of the team was a cluster f last season.

Also much as I love Bernier, I don't think he's the answer at this time.

PS: I saw someone tweeted about you and blogging. I think you should do it.

Someone mentions this earlier and i think it makes the most sense. If bryz gets hurt next year toward the end of the season, they might miss that window to buy him out. I was all for keeping him, but that rule just scares me. Is it worth keeping bryz knowing that there is a small chance of being stuck with that contract?

Someone mentions this earlier and i think it makes the most sense. If bryz gets hurt next year toward the end of the season, they might miss that window to buy him out. I was all for keeping him, but that rule just scares me. Is it worth keeping bryz knowing that there is a small chance of being stuck with that contract?
- Philly1980

Worst case scenario, you could do a regular buyout of his contract in June of 2015:

Ilya Bryzgalov buyout from CapGeek.com

2015-16: $1,033,333
2016-17: $1,533,333
2017-18: $1,533,333
2018-19: $4,783,333
2019-20: $5,783,333
2020-21: $1,366,667
2021-22: $1,366,667
2022-23: $1,366,667
2023-24: $1,366,667
2024-25: $1,366,667

If the problem weighs 100 lbs, imho, your first point weighs 30 lbs, and the edited second weighs 70lbs.
- Scoob

True, but that weight remains. I still like Bryz, just see no reason to keep him around, even if it is for one year.

The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to think they will do it, call it money reasons, and not mention the parts about how the rest of the team was a cluster f last season.

Also much as I love Bernier, I don't think he's the answer at this time.

PS: I saw someone tweeted about you and blogging. I think you should do it.
- Scoob

As far as a replacement or answer...I'm not sold on Bernier, either. He's played very well in limited time, but he's still only played 62 NHL games. I'd rather sign a vet on a one year deal and see if Mason can do the job, rather than trade an asset like Read for Bernier.

As for the blogging, we shall see....but I appreciate the kind words

Worst case scenario, you could do a regular buyout of his contract in June of 2015:

Ilya Bryzgalov buyout from CapGeek.com

2015-16: $1,033,333
2016-17: $1,533,333
2017-18: $1,533,333
2018-19: $4,783,333
2019-20: $5,783,333
2020-21: $1,366,667
2021-22: $1,366,667
2022-23: $1,366,667
2023-24: $1,366,667
2024-25: $1,366,667
- bradleyc4

Sounds good to me....who needs all that cap space anyhow?

Sounds good to me....who needs all that cap space anyhow?
- Jsaquella

Obviously not ideal.

The time to cut bait is now.

Obviously not ideal.

The time to cut bait is now.
- bradleyc4

The only possible way I think it'd be a good idea to keep Bryzgalov would be if they had fired Laviolette and hired a defensive minded guy, such as Tippett. Outside of that, I can't see Bryzgalov rebounding to the point where the risk on his deal is worth the level of play.

He can be a very good goalie in the right system. That system won't be in place here until it's too late to correct the mistake without pain.

True, but that weight remains. I still like Bryz, just see no reason to keep him around, even if it is for one year.

- Jsaquella

Understood. I like him and will be bummed if he goes. But I'll get over it.

If it happens, I hope @notbryzgoalie30 keeps tweeting. Imho, that is the best parody account around.

As far as a replacement or answer...I'm not sold on Bernier, either. He's played very well in limited time, but he's still only played 62 NHL games. I'd rather sign a vet on a one year deal and see if Mason can do the job, rather than trade an asset like Read for Bernier.

If Philly believes that Bernier will be as good as his hype says he will be I can see them going for it. Regardless, there is a better than even chance they'll get roasted no matter what happens.

Get him and he doesn't pan out. They're toast.
Don't get him and he pans out. They're toast.
Get him and he pans out. Woot! (wait...what...is this even possible? )
Don't get him and he doesn't pan out. (nobody will ever remember he was an option so this isn't a possible outcome. )

As for the blogging, we shall see....but I appreciate the kind words

From time to time I see folks RT you. It's good stuff.

Understood. I like him and will be bummed if he goes. But I'll get over it.

If it happens, I hope @notbryzgoalie30 keeps tweeting. Imho, that is the best parody account around.



If Philly believes that Bernier will be as good as his hype says he will be I can see them going for it.



From time to time I see folks RT you. It's good stuff.
- Scoob

Hopefully @notbryzgoalie30 will tweet about the KHL press if he ends up back in Mother Russia. That is the best parody amongst the Flyers.

Bernier could be worth it. He's highly skilled, but it's difficult to say how a guy will handle being the alpha dog.

I appreciate the kindness.

If Philly believes that Bernier will be as good as his hype says he will be I can see them going for it. Regardless, there is a better than even chance they'll get roasted no matter what happens.
- Scoob

Best prospect goalie since the glory days of the great Patrick Lalime.

The only possible way I think it'd be a good idea to keep Bryzgalov would be if they had fired Laviolette and hired a defensive minded guy, such as Tippett. Outside of that, I can't see Bryzgalov rebounding to the point where the risk on his deal is worth the level of play.

He can be a very good goalie in the right system. That system won't be in place here until it's too late to correct the mistake without pain.
- Jsaquella

If they hired Tippet, they could probably buyout Bryz, strap pads on to Danny B, and watch him morph into a Vezina candidate in that system.

The only possible way I think it'd be a good idea to keep Bryzgalov would be if they had fired Laviolette and hired a defensive minded guy, such as Tippett. Outside of that, I can't see Bryzgalov rebounding to the point where the risk on his deal is worth the level of play.

He can be a very good goalie in the right system. That system won't be in place here until it's too late to correct the mistake without pain.
- Jsaquella

Bryz will end up a Devil, cap hit under 3M, Flyers still paying him, and will shut out the Flyers many times. What a nightmare.

Btw didn't Homer say one of the goals was to get bigger?
Here comes Buff!

Btw didn't Homer say one of the goals was to get bigger?
Here comes Buff!
- Marc D

=>insert Jabba the Hut/Byfuglien photoshop job here

Hopefully @notbryzgoalie30 will tweet about the KHL press if he ends up back in Mother Russia. That is the best parody amongst the Flyers.

Bernier could be worth it. He's highly skilled, but it's difficult to say how a guy will handle being the alpha dog.

I appreciate the kindness.
- Jsaquella

The "Not Coatsey" and "Not Lavvy" accounts can be funny sometimes too.

If they hired Tippet, they could probably buyout Bryz, strap pads on to Danny B, and watch him morph into a Vezina candidate in that system.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, he had guys perform at their highest levels in both Phoenix and Dallas...including Smith, twice.

The "Not Coatsey" and "Not Lavvy" accounts can be funny sometimes too.
- johndewar

Fake Coatsey is hilarious

Bernier could be worth it. He's highly skilled, but it's difficult to say how a guy will handle being the alpha dog.
- Jsaquella

He's demonstrated at every level that he can handle the pressure... kind of like Schneider did before he finally got his shot. It's pretty much now or never if anybody really wants to pry the kid away. I kind of see him supplanting Quick in the next season or two.

He's demonstrated at every level that he can handle the pressure... kind of like Schneider did before he finally got his shot. It's pretty much now or never if anybody really wants to pry the kid away. I kind of see him supplanting Quick in the next season or two.
- Tomahawk

Maybe they can wait until next year when the Kings use a CBO on Quick

Fake Coatsey is hilarious
- Jsaquella

Agreed. Whoever that is has Coatsey's speech patterns down pretty good, because I read just about all of that person's work with Coatsey's real voice in my head and it still fits.

Maybe they can wait until next year when the Kings use a CBO on Quick
- Jsaquella

Lol, probably. Then proceed to watch Quick's game fall off a cliff as a Flyer...

Lol, probably. Then proceed to watch Quick's game fall off a cliff as a Flyer...
- Tomahawk

Circle of Life