The Edmonton Oilers announced Friday night on Twitter that the team has reached an agreement on a one-year deal with Ilya Bryzgalov. The Oilers are playing his old team, the Philadelphia Flyers, on Saturday afternoon.
Bryzgalov was bought out by the Flyers on a compliant buyout that took the remainder of his nine-year, $51 million contract off the Flyers' cap hit.
Bryzgalov now joins a team that has the league's worst goals-against average at 3.82. His career goals-against average is 2.55. Last season with the Flyers it was 2.79. This signing comes off a trade that the Oilers had made with the Calgary Flames, sending minor league goaltender Olivier Roy and defenseman Ladislav Smid to the flames in exchange for two prospects. Apparently, the Oilers are now becoming the Sabres, in terms of rebuilding for the future.
But what Bryzgalov does bring to the Oilers is goaltending, which they were certainly lacking. Bryzgalov's been out of the game for a while, so I'm not sure if he's going to be dominant that early on for the Oilers. But he definitely brings some help to this team, because their goaltending is so horrible and they're at the bottom of the Western Conference and struggling to get by. And because of the trade with the Flames, they believe they don't want Olivier Roy and Ladislav Smid anymore. I'm a little shocked that Smid got traded, considering that he signed a four-year deal over the summer to stay with the Oilers. I guess things change in a hurry.
Look for Bryzgalov to help this team. He might not be effective early, but once time progresses and he's able to get his bearings, he might just be what the doctor ordered for this Oilers team.
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