[News] Flyers will buyout Bryzgalov (OFFICIAL)

[dammage79]

Agree. Said it before I am very intrigued by Ramo and Berra. Berra being the one I have my eye on.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

I have no photoshop skills, but somebody should change the nameplate to "BUYOUTOV"

And his number to 37.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Outside of MacDonald you've listed a bunch of unproven goalies. And the only thing MacDonald has proven is he isn't a starter. I understand it's a rebuild and will take some time but I don't understand why stability in net is a bad thing. If you can get a starter (and I'm not saying that's Bryzgalov), why not take it? Takes a lot of pressure off of the young unproven goalies and more importantly the rest of the team. Otherwise the trial by fire that's going to take place is more reminiscent of our neighbours up north than any other team.

And we've already had the argument about having a full cupboard of goalies before when Irving and Keetley were fighting for goalie of the future status with McElhinney, Lalande, and Krahn in the system as well!

MacDonald is the kind of guy that will take some pressure off a young goalie - this is why the Flames re-signed him. He is a capable back-up, and by all accounts, is the type of guy you want in the room and as a backup.

Flames will probably end up drafting another goalie at some point this draft. Wouldn't be a terrible idea (depending on how high, of course). You are right - nobody is 'proven' yet, but there are a lot of eggs at varying levels of experience and age. There is really no need this year to go out and sign a veteran starter, and there is especially no need to go out and trade for one.

The Flames' window will not be open for at least 2 years. Possibly 3-5. There is time to figure out the goaltending situation. None of the goalies available this off-season are not without their question marks (Bernier seems like a future stud - but there are question marks as to whether he will really be a great starter or not since he played behind a very stingy LA defence, Miller and Bryz have both been rumored to be 'bad dressing room' guys and have had up and down seasons, etc).

Everyone realizes the importance of having great goaltending. The window for that is not here, however. Flames have 2 years to sort out their goaltending I would say, and it gives them enough time to see if Ramo, Berra and probably Ortio have what it takes. Perhaps by then they will have a good read on Brossoit as well, seeing as he is turning pro. If they all fail, that leaves them with Gillies and whomever else the Flames end up drafting this year and/or next year. Gives them time to pro-scout other leagues and to take advantage of any other opportunities that may come from different organizations.

It would be a terrible waste to not take this season at least to see what the current possibilities they already have are - regardless if assets are used or not. I expect both Ramo and Berra will be given long looks (and perhaps even Ortio, if he is doing well on the Heat) to see what they have. One of them good be the next Fasth, or they could all be the next Karlsson. I don't think any of us at this time can say definitively one way or the other. Until the Flames get a good look at them, best to just stay the course and concentrate assets and contracts towards plugging other holes in the organization, including signing veterans to both mentor the youth and to maybe provide a bit of a return on deadline deals.

Just my thoughts anyways.

[Jordan!]

Bryz would actually be a good goalie for The Flames. He did excel and lift the Coyotes in the regular season when he was here in Phoenix. His playoff sucked though.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Good Points.

Another thing to keep in mind is that whatever goalie does get the start for the Flames, take it easy on them. They are going to be playing in front of a rag tag team with a lot of holes... we can't expect Kipper like performances right off the bat.

Just as goalies like Bryz and Smith can get inflated playing in front of a hot defense, a goalie can also get deflated playing in front of a vulnerable team.

It will be a very, very interesting year and the performance of the goalies will not be solely reflected in the numbers.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Luongo to Philly.

Keep dreaming. They did not just buy out a nightmare goalie contract to take on another one.

[sun]

Wow, never a dull moment as a flyers fan. What a clusterfata of an organization.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by sun

Wow, never a dull moment as a flyers fan. What a clusterfata of an organization.

They are kind of like us and Edmonton, but with more competence.

[doctajones428]

I'd take a chance on Bryz for a one year deal to see if he bounces back to Phoenix form

[Locke]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

They are kind of like us and Edmonton, but with more competence.

And better players.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Am I actually seeing people suggest they want to see him on the Flames, or am I dreaming?

Wow

It's only game. Why you have to be mad?

Me, I almost want to see him sign here, just so he can have first-hand experience of the joy that is -32 in November month.

[RT14]

Do not want Bryz.

Give the Ramo and Berra a chance to see if we have something there. Bryz is nothing more than a distraction to our young guys who should be focused on training and getting better.

I highly doubt the Flames would even have interest as he doesn't exactly fit in with what Weisbroad said the criteria for choosing future Flames is - someone who you be proud to have wearing the Flaming C.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

MacDonald is the kind of guy that will take some pressure off a young goalie - this is why the Flames re-signed him. He is a capable back-up, and by all accounts, is the type of guy you want in the room and as a backup.

I don't necessary disagree with any of your points, my post was just in response to "I can't believe anyone would suggest Calgary should pick up any other goalie." I'm not suggesting that the Flames go and offersheet Bobrovsky matching the KHL 10M offer or trade the farm for Miller. But if you can grab an upgrade on MacDonald for nothing but a short term contract, I see no reason not to.

Take a look up north to see what beginning a rebuild with no redeeming qualities to start off with looks like in 6 years. Sure, you're going to get the 1st overall year after year but you're not going to climb out of the basement until you have some form of stability. Whether that's veteran presence, solid coaching or a reliable goalie it doesn't matter.

So no, the Flames aren't looking to make a run next year and need a goalie to do it. That doesn't mean it's not beneficial to have a solid netminder. If that means the team is only losing 4-2 instead of 6-2, it's at least a start. It's going to let the kids mess up here and there and not always result in a goal against, give them some confidence (or at least not destroy it). And if the argument is not to get a veteran starter because the cupboard is full, I'll remind everyone what happened the last time the cupboard was full of promising goalies - nothing.

If in the end all that goalie does is cause them to avoid one or two extra 7-0 thrashings in front of the home crowd, it would probably be worth it to avoid the boos. Now of course the question is who, if any, available goalie is good enough to do that.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

I don't necessary disagree with any of your points, my post was just in response to "I can't believe anyone would suggest Calgary should pick up any other goalie." I'm not suggesting that the Flames go and offersheet Bobrovsky matching the KHL 10M offer or trade the farm for Miller. But if you can grab an upgrade on MacDonald for nothing but a short term contract, I see no reason not to.

Take a look up north to see what beginning a rebuild with no redeeming qualities to start off with looks like in 6 years. Sure, you're going to get the 1st overall year after year but you're not going to climb out of the basement until you have some form of stability. Whether that's veteran presence, solid coaching or a reliable goalie it doesn't matter.

So no, the Flames aren't looking to make a run next year and need a goalie to do it. That doesn't mean it's not beneficial to have a solid netminder. If that means the team is only losing 4-2 instead of 6-2, it's at least a start. It's going to let the kids mess up here and there and not always result in a goal against, give them some confidence (or at least not destroy it). And if the argument is not to get a veteran starter because the cupboard is full, I'll remind everyone what happened the last time the cupboard was full of promising goalies - nothing.

If in the end all that goalie does is cause them to avoid one or two extra 7-0 thrashings in front of the home crowd, it would probably be worth it to avoid the boos. Now of course the question is who, if any, available goalie is good enough to do that.

I am not necessarily disagreeing with you about the importance of good netminding even at the start of the rebuild. I do agree with you that having horrid goaltending can affect the entire morale of the team.

However, the Flames don't know one way or the other what they really have. McBackup was a phenomenal prospect. I remember listening to some of the Flames' players talking about him in practice - he was lights-out. A "can't miss prospect" and future starter. He never gained the confidence to play in the games. Why? Seems it was a personal thing with him seeing as he has never been able to stick around in a few organizations even as a backup. Point is, you don't know what you got no matter how good you scout them, until you start them often.

You really can't count your chickens until they hatch, but the Flames have to at least throw them in the incubator (the NHL) to see if they are indeed chickens, or just rotten eggs. Bad pun aside, crowding the net at least for the first half of this season is not ideal. I think having MacDonald back there will help whomever is stepping up to show what the organization has. If the both flop, I would imagine the Flames start looking elsewhere (and I think they will draft another goalie this year at some point, just to spread out their chances).

If we get Miller or some other competent goalie, Ramo will run back to the KHL. Doesn't seem like such a big loss, but it COULD be a huge loss. He COULD be not only a decent starter, but also a franchise-type goalie. Berra may never get an opportunity to show much if Miller is starting 60+ games with MacDonald holding the fort either. McBackup's numbers are still sensational in the AHL.

I think no matter how well you scout goalies, and how well their past performance has indicated, you have no idea what you really have until you give them a long hard look. That is all I am really saying, so wasting further assets (even just free contract space) could mean the loss of assets that could potentially be even better by not allowing them the adequate opportunity to showcase what they really are at the NHL level over a period of time. Every goalie can make incredible highlight reel saves, and every goalie can have horrid games. Without a large enough sample size, it remains an unknown until they prove it one way or another, and getting another goalie in at this stage will just make it more difficult for them to do so.

Next year (or even half-way through the season) if both Ramo and Berra are really bombing, Flames will be in the market for a goalie, and Ortio will be getting some starts to see what he can bring (if he seems to be transitioning well in the AHL anyways). That is how I see the Flames moving ahead with their search for Kipper's replacement anyways. Hopefully it won't come to those huge beat-downs - at least not regularly (even having a great goalie around on a good team, blow-outs happen, and more often on rebuilding teams). If they happen frequently, Flames will move faster in searching. There is just no need to search right now with so many options, and with a fairly reliable MacDonald holding the fort for now.

[puckluck2]

Even though I think Bryzgalov was overrated I doubt very many goalies could have been successful playing for the Flyers the last couple years.

The Flyers system was offence, offence, and more offence leaving him out to dry a number of times.

[cannon7]

Don't understand how the Flyers can turn on Bryzgalov this quickly... I'd take a chance on him for a reasonable price.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont think so. He seems like a toxic teammate.

Really? Everything I've seen shows he is a funny guy and he would be an awesome teammate. Just because he doesn't want to take calls when it is announced that he was the team's worst ever free agent signing and he will be bought out?

[Rudee]

I just heard about this buyout on the news this morning. I can't believe it. On the payroll until 2027?!?!?!?!

[Philly06Cup]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Don't understand how the Flyers can turn on Bryzgalov this quickly... I'd take a chance on him for a reasonable price.

You only have so many chances at compliance buyouts. Better to cut losses, and not be stuck with the cap hit. Luckily they have oodles of money to blow on mistakes like this.

He's still a better goalie than Fleury, at least. If they can rebuild their D, I can see them doing okay with an average goalie, ala Niemi or Crawford.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

You only have so many chances at compliance buyouts. Better to cut losses, and not be stuck with the cap hit. Luckily they have oodles of money to blow on mistakes like this.

He's still a better goalie than Fleury, at least. If they can rebuild their D, I can see them doing okay with an average goalie, ala Niemi or Crawford.

I don't think breezer is any better than fleury quite honestly, and I have a low opinion of fleury.

Both bryzgalov and fleury can get hot for a stretch, even bail a team out for a few wins. They are both guilty of back breaking softies and completely inconsistent play though. Some of the goals bryzgalov let's in consistently, he doesn't even react to them. Bryzgalov is the ultimate head case.

I wonder if he will get another nhl job after this buyout. He's probably pretty toxic around the NHL.