Now that Ilya Bryzgalov has met the Philadelphia media (via conference call), one starts to get the sense of how much fun the next nine years (yeah, as if) are going to be with Bryz and postgame comments.
"The Eastern Conference is probably more open than the Western Conference. That's all I know," he says, despite six of the top 10 teams and eight of the top 15 teams in goal-scoring belonging to the West.
"If the team needs me 82 games, I'll play 82 games," he promises, just moments after conceding that his fatigue in the Phoenix Coyotes' first-round series loss against the Detroit Red Wings caused him to make some "once-in-a-while mistakes." (To the tune of a 4.36 goals-against average.)
While he didn't utter anything all that controversial in his interview, this is the same unfiltered Bryzgalov who complained about Winnipeg's parks system and asked "why you heff to be mad?" on The Score. The kind of player who tosses it all out there in a cacophony of quotes and sees what sticks. If this goaltending thing doesn't work out, he'd make a great fill-in host on WIP.
The operative question being whether this goaltending thing is going to work out with the Philadelphia Flyers?
To that end, the main question facing Bryzgalov is one of pressure. It's Philly. He' a goalie. This isn't exactly a revelation.
But there's additional pressure in this case, because Bryzgalov isn't just another in a string of orange-and-black placeholders with the staying power of a Spinal Tap drummer. He's the Franchise Goalie, and compensated as such.
Along with the desire to perform some personality surgery in the dressing room, GM Paul Holmgren shipped the salaries of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards out on the same day he signed Bryzgalov. The changes for the Flyers are liked to the acquisition of, and wagering on, this goaltender. If the team falters, he's going to be the lightning rod for criticism.
(Jaromir Jagr will get his share of flak too, but he's only on this carousel for one year.)
Bryzgalov was asked about that pressure on Monday:
Q: Are you prepared to deal with the pressure of being the guy that is look to as in some ways a goaltending savior for this organization?
"I want to be. I want to be and I want to be the guy who can carry this team. I don't know what else to say. I want to help this team win the Stanley Cup because people in Philadelphia and the organization have waited long enough. I want to win the Stanley Cup also and I think we have similar ideas, similar goals. That's why we have to work hard and reach this goal. Pressure?we have to deal with the pressure every way and every day in our lives, hockey, everywhere."
Everywhere!
Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly thinks Bryzgalov might have the right mental temperament for the Flyers job. Not the toughness, mind you ? the temperament.
The pressure on a goalie to win in Philadelphia is like no other. Sean Burke, the new goalie coach in Phoenix where Bryzgalov played, said at the draft last month that it was an eye-opening experience for him to play in Philly ? but that because of Bryzgalov's personality, it probably won't seem like pressure to him.
He's aloof.
Still, it's doubtful the Russian fully understands the whole "goalie thing" in this city. "I want to be the guy who can carry this team," he said. "I don't know what else to say. I want to help this team win the Stanley Cup because people in Philadelphia and the organization have waited long enough."
It's refreshing to hear an outsider join the Flyers and candidly admit what Flyers fans have been saying for the last 36 years: It's time to win another Cup.
Bryzgalov's 9-year, $51 million contract has been called one of the worst of the summer, but we don't see it. Sure, his impact on the ice has yet to be seen. Yes, his addition to the lineup caused a rippled effect throughout the roster.
But if this thing implodes, what's the worst that happens? Bryzgalov leaves for the KHL, taking his $5.66 million cap his with him?
And what's the best that can happen?
Hint: Flyers fans have been waiting for it to happen again since "Jaws" was in theaters for the first time.
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