Ilya Bryzgalov

At 44 years old, Ilya Bryzgalov has this physical status:

Ilya Nikolayevich Bryzgalov (born 22 June 1980) is a Russian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild.

He was drafted by Anaheim in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall. In 2006–07, Bryzgalov won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks.

Internationally, he has earned a bronze medal with Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships.

Bryzgalov also competed in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and is a three-time Olympian.

As the starting goaltender, he helped Russia win back-to-back gold medals at the 2009 World Ice Hockey Championships, making them ranked number one in the world.

He was also runner-up for the Vezina Trophy and a top-five finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy in the 2009–10 season.

Personal life

Bryzgalov and his wife, Yevgeniya, have a daughter, Valery, and a son, Vladislav. The family lived in Yorba Linda, California, during Bryzgalov's tenure with the Anaheim Ducks. He spent five summers attending college in Russia, where he earned his degree, allowing him to teach and coach in Russian schools. He reads books and enjoys studying philosophy. Bryzgalov is the proud owner of a Siberian husky, a breed of dog he considers very beautiful. In HBO's 24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic series, he compared his dog to a "hot blonde girl".

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Playing career

Bryzgalov began his career in Russia, splitting Spartak Moscow of the Russian Supreme League (RSL-2) and Lada Togliatti of the Russian Super League in 1999-2000 (RSL). Bryzgalov spent two seasons with Lada Togliatti before joining the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who drafted him in the second round, 44th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

However, Bryzgalov spent the better part of his first four seasons with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League, with Jean-Sébastien Girou and Martin Gerber ahead of him in the club's depth chart. (AHL). He made his Mighty Ducks debut in 2001–02 in his first two games during that four-season stretch.

In the 2005-06 season, Bryzgalov took over for Giovello after the departure of backup Gerber. However, Bryzgalov's injury prompted him to play more games than he would have, and the Ducks' starter responded with a 13–12–1 record with a 2.51 goals against average (GAA) and a.910 save percentage. In their first-round match against the Calgary Flames, Bryzgalov got off to a three-starting appearance and one relief appearance for the Ducks. He filled-in in Game 1 for an injured Giant, ultimately losing by 2–1 overtime. In Game 5 he recalled Giarra and stopped all 19 shots he had missed in a 3–2 loss. He took over the starting job for Games 6 and 7 of the series, winning 2–1 in Game 6 and recording a shutout in the close Game 7. In the first two games of the second season against the Colorado Avalanche, Bryzgalov then recorded 5–0 and 3–0 shutouts. Frank McCool set a new record in consecutive shutouts in 1945 for the third straight shutout streak of all time. Despite his success in the first two rounds, Bryzgalov suffered in the semifinals against the Edmonton Oilers and was eventually substituted by Giarra for the remainder of the series, when the Ducks were eliminated in five games.

The following season and the 2007 playoffs saw Bryzgalov continue to play backup to Gianni in Giovanni. Bryzgalov made a remark about Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle, saying he had no confidence in them. However, he was briefly named as the starter for the first four games of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, winning three games while Giroun took a leave of absence due to personal circumstances. In the Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings, Bryzgalov was able to return to the Ottawa Senators, but Bryzgalov's first Stanley Cup was not on the field.

The Ducks attempted to trade Bryzgalove after his re-signing of Gianni for a four-year contract in the off-season and the signing of Jonas Hiller from Switzerland, but were unable to do so. Brian Burke, the Anaheim general manager, said he had a contract that was not complete at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft but he didn't finish it. As a result, Bryzgalov was put on waivers and claimed by the Phoenix Coyotes the next day, on November 17th. In a 1–0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in his first game with the team that day, Bryzgalov made 27 saves for his third shutout. Phoenix blasted him to a three-year contract extension, and he went on to win in 55 games for the Coyotes as they battled for a playoff spot, establishing himself as the team's starting goaltender.

During the 2008–2009 season, Bryzgalov earned 26 victories for the Coyotes, though the Coyotes did not qualify for the playoffs. But the 2009–2010 season will be a different tale for Bryzgalov and the Coyotes, who will qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2002, based on Bryzgalov's 42 victories. In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the fourth-seeded Coyotes will face the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit eventually won in seven games in what turned out to be a tumultuous match. During the series, Bryzgalov averaged 3.43 goals against per game.

Despite the chaos surrounding the Coyotes' 2010-11 season, Bryzgalov's 36 victories helped them to their sixth seed in the Western Conference and a return to the playoffs. The Coyotes faced the Red Wings once more. Despite Bryzgalov's solid play in the regular season, the Red Wings defeated the Coyotes in four straight games, average 4.36 goals against per game. The Coyotes did not agree to Bryzgalov's request for a contract extension because he was expected to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Bryzgalov's negotiation rights were sold to the Philadelphia Flyers for a third-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, forward Matt Clackson, and future considerations were sold on June 6, 2011. During his four seasons with the Coyotes, Bryzgalov averaged 33 victories per season.

The Flyers had a player who regularly filled the starting goaltender position for the past two seasons. Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher were able to assist the team in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals in place of injured starter Ray Emery, but neither goaltender retained the starting position for a lengthy time. In the 2010-2011 season, Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky was the Flyers' starter, but he and Boucher formed another tandem of similar inconsistency, with similar inconsistency, including a dismal playoff for both.

The Flyers announced Bryzgalov as their new starter on June 23, 2011, extending his deal to nine years and $51 million. Jeff Carter and the Columbus Blue Jackets, as well as first- and third-round picks in the 2011 Entry Draft) and captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings in order to cover his salary cap.

Following a 9–8 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, Bryzgalov spoke on his own play: "I have zero confidence in myself right now." "If you really throw a ball instead of the puck, I'm not gonna stop it," he said. However, Bryzgalov would return to form by winning six of his next eight games.

During the filming of HBO's 24/7 series, Bryzgalov's remarks regarding the Universe were particularly relevant – "the solar system is so humongous big," he said. Now, you know, our solar system and our galaxy on the other hand, but our galaxy is like, and we're so small — you will never see it — but our galaxy is like a) tiny dot in Universe, as shown by the large picture. "And we have some issues here on the Earth that we should be concerned about?" says the author. Comparing to like... nothing. Be happy, just be glad. Don't be concerned; be content right now." Siri has resulted in some amusing games, including how when asking for information about the Universe, Siri instead delivers details about Bryzgalov, referring to him as "Mr. Universe."

"I have great news and even better news when I said that Sergei Bobrovsky will be the starter for the 2012 NHL Winter Classic." "I'm not playing," he said, and better news is we have a chance to win the game, and "I'll] make sure I don't forget my thermos with some nice tea and enjoy the bench." Bobrovsky started the Winter Classic on January 2, 2012, a 3–2 Flyers loss to the New York Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.

Following a 6–4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, Bryzgalov was quoted as saying, "I know I was ill in my game today and I know I have to be better and I know I should be more efficient." But,... I will try to find solace in my soul to play in this city.

Bryzgalov's shutouts and allowed just two goals over a five-game span from 4 to 13 March 2012. In a match against the New York Islanders, Bryzgalov tied for the longest shutout streak in two days.

For March 2012, Bryzgalov was named as the NHL's First Star of the Month.

The Flyers and Bryzgalov were eliminated in the second round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs on May 8, 2012, after losing 3–1 to the New Jersey Devils. During the playoffs, he had a 3.46 goals against average as well as an.887 save percentage.

He won his 200th game in his career, a 2–1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on March 2, 2013.

On June 25, 2013, Bryzgalov was informed by the Flyers that the Flyers would purchase the remaining seven years of his deal with a compliance buyout.

Bryzgalov, a professional hockey player from Las Vegas, committed to a try-out deal with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL on October 2, 2013. According to the ECHL's website, Bryzgalov was signed by the Wranglers as an emergency backup goaltender on October 17, 2013. He would be released two weeks later, on October 16th, after never playing a game for the Wranglers.

Bryzgalov signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers on November 8, 2013. He started on a conditioning stint with the Edmonton Barons, but the Oilers were then called up on Friday. Bryzgalov got off to a good start of the season on November 28th with a 3–0 win over the Nashville Predators, stopping all 33 shots. Bryzgalov, who had been working as a relief artist the previous night, announced that he had come to a conclusion. "And he picked up right where he left off last game," head coach Dallas Eakins said after the game. I had hoped he was solid. He seemed to be the most popular on the internet, as well as the fact that he was not. "I see the check marks are placed right across the page for him." Devan Dubnyk, the starting goaltender, was on hand for Bryzgalov's backup for the night. However, Bryzgalov was hospitalized only two games later, putting an end to his attempts to substitute Dubnyk to become the Oilers' starter. However, Dubnyk was traded to Nashville in January, making Bryzgalov Edmonton's new starter until he was exchanged.

Bryzgalov was traded to the Minnesota Wild in return for a fourth-round draft pick on March 4th. He played well for the Wild down the stretch, leading to a 7-1-3 record, and he shared his playing time with goaltender Darcy Kuemper in the 2014 playoffs. In the first round, the Wild defeated the Colorado Avalanche, but in round two, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks. At the end of the season, Bryzgalov became an unrestricted free agent.

Bryzgalov signed a tryout with the Anaheim Ducks on December 3, 2014, the team for which he competed from 2001 to 2008. Following a fruitful tryout, the Ducks reportedly agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.88 million on September 9, 2014.

After fighting for the Ducks' third-string position with Jason LaBarbera, the Ducks placed Bryzgalov on waivers and he was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. However, the Ducks kept Bryzgalov on unconditional waivers on February 26, which is usually an indication that a team is about to release a player. Bryzgalov will be returning home to his family, not finish the 2014–15 season with them, putting an end to his professional career.

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