Ilya Bryzgalov Finally Announces Retirement So Let's Commemorate The Flyers' Greatest Worst Signing Ever
A week from today will be the 4 year anniversary of the day the Philadelphia Flyers signed free agent goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to solve Philadelphia’s perpetual goalie struggles. As just a young, beady-eyed pup who still had at least an ounce of optimism left in my soul, I remember being very excited about this signing. Bryz was a proven goaltender after spending some time in Anaheim and Phoenix and after a carousel of guys like Sean Burke, Brian Boucher, Michael Leighton, Martin Biron, Brian Boucher a few more times and a couple parking cones, I thought Ilya Bryzgalov was going to be the one. A week from today will be the 4 year anniversary of the day that Ilya Bryzgalov signed a contract for 9 YEARS worth $51 MILLION. It seems like a lifetime ago. And while the news of Bryzgalov formally retiring should have come at least 2 years ago, it looks like that day is finally here. And why not? The man is getting paid over a million dollars every year by the Flyers until like 2027 anyway. $23 million just for sucking so much that the Flyers needed to ship him out of town. It’s amazing, really. He will go down as the absolute greatest worst signing in Flyers history and I’m just so glad we all got to witness how horribly that entire disaster went. Now cue up some Sarah McLachlan and let’s remember all the good times we shared together.
And of course…
Honestly, I kind of feel a little bad about the city of Philadelphia breaking Ilya Bryzgalov. There were plenty of moments during his time here that you could tell he is a really solid goaltender. But he’s just the kind of guy who can’t deal with all the pressure and attention. Being in Anaheim and Phoenix were great for him because maybe 100 people total really care about hockey in those two places. Nobody would really get on his case if he had a bad game here or there. Philadelphia was easily one of the top 5 worst places for him to end up. But then I remember he’s getting paid millions and millions of dollars to just not play for the Flyers anymore and I’m done feeling bad for the guy. Goodnight, Sweet Czar.