Anaheim G Ilya Bryzgalov accepts AHL assignment: It didn't work out

Published Feb. 24, 2015 5:57 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Ilya Bryzgaov isn't hanging up the skates quite yet.

The Anaheim Ducks' 34-year-old Russian goaltender cleared waivers Monday and has decided to accept an assignment in the AHL with the Ducks' primary development team, the Norfolk Admirals. It doesn't appear to be a nasty split with Anaheim, the team that drafted him at the start of his career, but it does seem as though neither side was on the same page.

"We took a chance and it didn't work out for either of us the right way," said Ducks general manager Bob Murray told reporters Tuesday morning. "Neither one of us feels very good about it."

Bryzgalov was cut from the Minnesota Wild during training camp this season and had retired to a quiet life in New Jersey, shuttling his kids back and forth from hockey and figure skating practices when the Ducks came calling in December. He tried out and worked out a deal with the team he played for from 2001-2007, but never really performed to the level that was expected. 

In six starts, Bryzgalov won only once, and allowed 23 goals against in eight total games for a 4.19 GAA and a career-low .847 save percentage. It was considered a low-risk, high-reward situation the top team in the league at the time, but there has been little rewards and the Ducks are ready to hand the backup job to John Gibson.

"I tried to get a goalie I knew without giving anything up," Murray said. "It hasn't worked out the way Bryz or I wanted it to. I have a history with Bryz, and he won seven games for us the year we won the Cup. He played well in the playoffs last year in Minnesota."

But the Ducks never saw his Minnesota form. Bryzgalov looked as though he was tracking the puck well in a few tough-luck losses, but there were other teams his performance was more sieve-like. 

Anaheim is ranked 19th in the NHL in goals against, allowing 2.72 per game and while scoring only 2.85 per game. The Ducks have won more overtime and shootout games than anyone else in the league, but Anaheim and Winnipeg have also played more overtime than any other team in the league. 

Goals against have been of great concern for coach Bruce Boudreau, who appeared to have a short leash with Bryzgalov in the few games he played.  

It's tough to say how he would have performed had he been allowed more ice time, but his decision to continue playing in the AHL would indicate that he still wants to contribute and feels that he is able to do so.

"He and his agent asked me to check with a couple of teams on things, so I'm checking on a couple of things," Murray said. "I won't comment any more than that. They're legitimate things they've asked me to check on. I'm in the process of checking on things. If I can help him, I will help him, which would help myself, of course."

The organization now has four NHL veterans on their minor league roster in Bryzgalov, Dany Heatley, Marc Fistric and David Steckel. It's not ideal, as the former three were expected to play big roles for the Ducks this season, and Murray isn't exactly thrilled with some of his midseason acquisitions either.

Murray didn't name names, but Bryzgalov, winger Rene Bourque and defenseman Eric Brewer were all acquired after the start of the season as injury replacements. 

"I think some of the things to fill holes during the year with injuries, to be quite honest, haven't been very good," Murray said. "None of them have worked out great for all sorts of different reasons that I won't get into. They haven't worked, and that's ultimately our responsibility in management."

share