Examining what Ilya Bryzgalov Brings to the Anaheim Ducks
Jan 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie lya Bryzgalov (80) grabs the puck against the New York Rangers during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
The professional tryout for Ilya Bryzgalov came at the end of a string of unexpected moves from Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray. The acquisitions of Rene Bourque, Eric Brewer, and Colby Robak felt like knee-jerk reactions from a GM who was trying to manage a roster ravaged by injuries. Signing Bryzgalov felt like another step in that direction.
Is there a case to be made for this signing? The Ducks were doing fine with Frederik Andersen. John Gibson and Jason LaBarbera were injured, but both were set to return at a similar time and were on the verge of being ready when the team made the signing. It’s only now that Bryzgalov seems like a suitable backup, while Gibson and LaBarbera sit in the AHL. Had Murray waited a week, he could have gone back to the duo of Andersen and Gibson without spending $2.88 million in cap space for Bryzgalov.
So that begs the question of why the Ducks signed him? What does this signing bring to the team that they didn’t have before?
Next: Further Development
Dec 19, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (80) looks on during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
1. Development for Gibson
One major benefit to the Bryzgalov signing is that Gibson gets more ice time. Prodigy. Champion. Phenom. No matter how Gibson is labeled and projected, he is still a 21 year-old goalie who has time and room to develop further. The best way to develop a young player is to give him more ice time. If he were to remain with Anaheim, he’d most likely be in a backup role at this point. Andersen has staked his claim to the number one spot and has given no reason for Boudreau to treat him otherwise.
Gibson would not get the minutes in Anaheim that he will playing in Norfolk. For a player his age and with his talent, playing in the AHL is not a terrible thing. Being patient with Gibson has its own benefits: failing to give a player ice time is harmful for development, but so is rushing a player along the development curve.
Next: Potentially Better Backup Situation
Dec 19, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (80) looks on prior to the game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
2. Possibility of a Better Backup
It’s hard to say that Bryzgalov has been better than LaBarbera this season: both have a very limited sample size in terms of games and minutes played. However, Bryzgalov has improved between the two games he played, and only looks to get better.
On the other hand, LaBarbera was consistently average in his games with the Ducks. There was really no indication that he would get any better. Between the two netminders, Bryzgalov could prove to be the more reliable, solid goaltender, despite their contrasting records (Bryzgalov is 0-2-0 with a 4.93 GAA and .836 SV%, while LaBarbera is 2-0-1 with a 2.61 GAA and .909 SV%). Bryzgalov has been a victim of two rather poor outings by the Ducks’ skaters, against Ottawa and New York, while one of LaBarbera’s wins came in relief of Andersen against the Los Angeles Kings.
Next: Realistic Expectations
Jan 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (80) blocks a shot against the New York Rangers during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
At this point in his career, Bryzgalov has gained more attention for his personality off the ice, rather than for his play on it. Between his unexpected intelligence and unique methods of articulation, Bryzgalov is the perfect athlete for internet fodder. For the most part, he tries to keep things lighthearted and not get too down about the things going on around him. It’s hardly a bad thing to have in the locker room.
The biggest reason why Bryzgalov deserves a serious chance in competing for a spot on the team is that he wants to be here. Bryzgalov wants to play for a competitive team and wants to contribute to their success. Bryzgalov is driven to do well, get better, and compete for a championship. Between the games against the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers, Bryzgalov got exponentially better, and that trend will hopefully continue into the next game he plays. It may not be much for right now, but for the future, Bryzgalov will be a backup who can give the Ducks a chance to win whenever he’s in net.
The worst thing about this signing is the timing. Had Bryzgalov been signed in July instead of LaBarbera or offered a professional tryout before training camp, the issues he is facing now would not be as urgent or dire as they seem right now. Since the timing of the signing is less than ideal, the Ducks can only hope to get the most out of Bryzgalov they can, while giving Andersen some well-deserved time off between starts.