So I’ve been losing to grad school just like the Sabres have
been losing to … well, everybody. But I’m back for the moment with some
humongous big news. Ilya Bryzgalov is back! Bryzgalov has signed a one year
deal with the Oilers. The Oilers are in their familiar place at the bottom of
the Western Conference with a 4-11-2 record, but this was supposed to be the
year they broke out of the cellar. Well, it hasn’t happened. They’ve allowed
3.82 goals a game, and none of Devan Dubnyk, Jason LaBarbera, or Richard
Bachman has given them the goaltending expected, or needed, for a playoff team.
This was supposed to be the year Dubnyk cemented his status as a number 1, but
he’s struggled mightily to a 3-6-1 record in 11 games with an .878 SV% and a
3.80 GAA. While it’s not all Dubnyk’s fault, the Oilers obviously felt he
wasn’t getting the job done.
So enter Bryzgalov. After getting bought out by the Flyers,
and in the process being paid $23 million to not play in Philadelphia,
Bryzgalov couldn’t find a home during the offseason. Will Bryzgalov be the
savior to finally get the Oilers out of draft lottery contention? Well, let’s
consider that part of the reason he was driven out of Philly is because he
wasn’t quite the goalie they expected for the money they were paying. Well,
Bryzgalov went from playing for the Coyotes, behind Dave Tippett’s superb defensive
system to a Flyers team that wasn’t quite the same. I guess you could say they
were in an entirely different universe.
The Flyers are still having problems defensively, so I guess they never
realized they had to solve that problem, but compounding that their offense
isn’t showing up anymore.
One thing the Oilers share, more with Philadelphia than with
Phoenix, is problems with defense. Making that worse, they traded one of their
more consistent, stay-at-home type defensemen, you know the ones that actually
play defense, in Ladislav Smid to get Bryzgalov to fit into their cap
situation. So, that doesn’t help. And despite the fact the Oilers are rumored
to be in the market for some more defensive type blueliners, they haven’t made
those changes yet. So Bryzgalov comes to a team that just traded away arguably
their best defensive defensemen. And this same team has problems with their
defensive system. Interesting. Sounds a little bit like Philly last year. But
it might not turn out that way. This does have the potential to work out
wonderful for the Oilers. Or it might not change a thing. Either way, Bryzgalov
appears to be an upgrade over Dubnyk. The signing, along with the trade, is a
wakeup call, kinda like switching goalies in a game. Bryzgalov should be
motivated to show he can still play in the NHL – think of how easy it would
have been for him to just go home and play in the KHL. But no, he attended an
ECHL training camp to stay in shape and waited for an NHL offer. Well he’s got
it now. Let’s see what he can do.
And even if it doesn’t work wonderfully, I think a lot of
people are glad Bryzgalov is back. He’s a character, with some amazing (and
unintentionally hilarious) quotes. He’ll automatically make the media out of
Edmonton more entertaining. He was a very good goalie before arriving in
Philadelphia’s goalie pressure cooker. Much like Rick DiPietro, he comes across
as one of those goalies that has hit hard luck recently that you can’t help but
root for. Unless you’re bitter about the fact these guys are getting paid
millions to not play for a team. So welcome back Ilya Bryzgalov. I look forward
to seeing what you can do, just as much as I look forward to hearing your
latest theories on the universe.
