They should go with Bryz again, despite those impressive numbers.

Plus, all-time vs. a team stats are kind of a dumb barometer. He's not facing the same exact skaters yet again, amongst other varying factors.
- bradleyc4

Bryz played well and is clearly the number 1... gotta go with him.

Bryz played well and is clearly the number 1... gotta go with him.
- jak521

No question about it. Bryzgalov should start vs the NYI.

Last year's number for the 2 were very close.. Bryz had both a better save% and gaa..

2.51 to 2.48 and .915 and .921.

*Notice: One was playing in his first year of North American hockey*
- jak521

Again, it goes back to mjl's comments about "not being convinced". The management saw that Bryz strung together a few, solid years of starting, whereas Bob is still a young goalie with a high ceiling. One is proven, and the other isn't.

Prayers to the Rivera Family. Hope something can be done!
- JoeRussomanno

?

Unspeakable

The ancient one, who lives beyond time and space, more powerful and maddening than Cthulu, all fear Tu'Reh'Al!
- BulliesPhan87

Because you're not convinced that the young guy will ever be a Goalie that can play at a Vezina Trophy level, and he guy you targeted has.
- MJL

So how does he get the opportunity to convince you that he can play at that level then?

No question about it. Bryzgalov should start vs the NYI.
- stveshdy

I don't think Bobrovsky's statistics against the Islanders can be ignored. And I think that Laviolette has designs to starts Bryz both games this weekend. Four starts in six days is a bit much.

I don't think Bobrovsky's statistics against the Islanders can be ignored. And I think that Laviolette has designs to starts Bryz both games this weekend. Four starts in six days is a bit much.
- PLindbergh31

It could be, Laviolette has been one to take the goaltending road less trodden.

I don't think Bobrovsky's statistics against the Islanders can be ignored. And I think that Laviolette has designs to starts Bryz both games this weekend. Four starts in six days is a bit much.
- PLindbergh31

Sounds moronic. But Laviolette always seems to do the opposite of conventional wisdom when it comes to his goalies.

I don't think Bobrovsky's statistics against the Islanders can be ignored. And I think that Laviolette has designs to starts Bryz both games this weekend. Four starts in six days is a bit much.
- PLindbergh31

Ride the Horse, plain and simple.

Sounds moronic. But Laviolette always seems to do the opposite of conventional wisdom when it comes to his goalies.
- bradleyc4

Just my guess. I could be way off base.

Again, it goes back to mjl's comments about "not being convinced". The management saw that Bryz strung together a few, solid years of starting, whereas Bob is still a young goalie with a high ceiling. One is proven, and the other isn't.
- steelydan

I absolutely agree with that.. but just as adamantly disagree with a 9 year contract.. which goes back to my comments about extremes..

It could be, Laviolette has been one to take the goaltending road less trodden.
- BulliesPhan87

Who really knows how the goalies will be used the next three games. Whatever guy is in the cage I want to play well.

Just another reason I hope this team has a collapse of epic proportion..

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=612291
- jak521

sounds like the hiv

We braved the storm of the year out here to go up to Vancouver and watch the Canucks play Flyers West last night.

The storm moved south, so other then some cold temperatures it was clear roads all the way.

As a bonus I got to see Rockychoc Bill who was sitting as far away from me in the rink as possible. Thanks for making the trek to the 3rd level last night! Bill mentioned he was a little tired of all the trade talk around the Flyers, and I have to agree. Lets see what the kids can do now.

It was really weird for me to watch Mike Richards skating in a Kings jersey. Richie had an all around great game, not counting the game winner in the shoot out. In many ways I wish he was still a Flyer, but what's done is done. I think it will take many years to evaluate the trade for Schenn. I love Simmonds but Schenn is the key, and its impossible to say right now that the Flyers came out ahead.

I know Dustin Penner gets a lot of grief here, but he was skating well and throwing his weight around very effectively last night.

Also I was impressed with Brad Richardson for the Kings. He doesn't get a lot of points but he was around the puck all night.

Kopitar was a treat to watch. He has little bit of Jagr in him, the way he can hold and protect the puck.

Matt Greene is exactly the type of physical defenseman I would like to see on the Flyers at some point. He uses his size to clear the crease legally, and every time he was on a Canuck he gave them a hit. Solid player.

The Canucks looked lethargic last night. They put the crowd to sleep, and in the first period I would say that was one of the quietest buildings I've been in for a hockey game.

Quick is a dynamite goalie. He made some tough saves look routine.

Who really knows how the goalies will be used the next three games. Whatever guy is in the cage I want to play well.
- PLindbergh31

Simply put, Pronger/Timonen/Briere are getting up there and the front office thought we had enough pieces to get over the top with the addition of a franchise goalie. Bob certainly has the potential to be a franchise goalie, but that's all he is so far.

With adding Bryz and a few other pieces (Simmonds, Jagr, Vorcacek, Schenn), and losing some of your core, they thought the Flyers still had a chance to make a run. And to be honest, they still do. On top of that, Bob is still great trade bait in the future.
- steelydan

Understandable for a 4 yr or 5 yr deal. As someone mentioned above it seems like the big guys of the organization were sick of people asking "why the hell haven't we went out and got a goalie?" so they went out and jumped the gun and signed a mega deal.

It can work out for the better (for flyer fans at least) but just seemed like an odd move given bobs potential.

?
- PLindbergh31

um the story about the little girl in Bill's blog....

I absolutely agree with that.. but just as adamantly disagree with a 9 year contract.. which goes back to my comments about extremes..
- jak521

the only goaltender that I would sign to a 9 year deal would be Lundqvist, and then maybe miller

Understandable for a 4 yr or 5 yr deal. As someone mentioned above it seems like the big guys of the organization were sick of people asking "why the hell haven't we went out and got a goalie?" so they went out and jumped the gun and signed a mega deal.

It can work out for the better (for flyer fans at least) but just seemed like an odd move given bobs potential.
- kgrpitt

Thats what caught me so off guard.. He showed in his first season in the NHL and in the North American game. I could understand a 3-4 year deal with a guy like Vokoun.. but a 9 year deal with NMC is just extreme to me.

I absolutely agree with that.. but just as adamantly disagree with a 9 year contract.. which goes back to my comments about extremes..
- jak521

Agreed on the 9-year point. One can only imagine that Bryz and his agent had an upper hand in negotiations and the Flyers couldn't get them to budge.

um the story about the little girl in Bill's blog....
- JoeRussomanno

Didn't get a chance to read the blog as of yet. I'm at work and been in and out of the car all morning.

This week's Across the Pond is now on NHL.com. I would not be shocked if some NHL team -- probably not the Flyers, though -- takes a chance on signing either Richard Gynge or Robert Rosen (even though they are pretty much this year's version of Fabian Brunnström),

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=612382

the only goaltender that I would sign to a 9 year deal would be Lundqvist, and then maybe miller
- Jack-Meoff

not a single goalie in the game that I would sign that long. Too many things can go wrong. Sign a 5 year deal and then re-evaluate and resign then. Look at Miller.. the year of the Olympics he was top of the goalie food chain.. now

Thats what caught me so off guard.. He showed in his first season in the NHL and in the North American game. I could understand a 3-4 year deal with a guy like Vokoun.. but a 9 year deal with NMC is just extreme to me.
- jak521

They have also been to the up and coming goalie dance before in the last two decades, with Boucher and Nittymaki. I think they got inpatient. Probably could have waited one more year but ahh wtf GID!