The Flyers swung a trade for the negotiating rights to goalie Ilya Bryzgalov last week and tomorrow will begin the push to try and actually sign him. Sam Carchidi of the Inquirer reports GM Paul Holmgren, coach Peter Laviolette and goalie coach Jeff Reese will meet with Bryzgalov and his agent for the first time tomorrow.
Carchidi reports that the Flyers are optimistic about getting a deal done with the netminder. After a recent phone call with Bryzgalov, Paul Holmgren said he “sounded pretty excited.”
He’ll probably “sound pretty excited” if Holmgren ponies up a five-year $30 million offer… That has been the number floated around as what Bryzgalov is looking for. Of course, bringing in the goalie means that a few key contributors will have to be on their way out…
To sign the goalie and fit him under the salary cap, the Flyers will probably not be able to re-sign winger Ville Leino – and figure to move one of their high-priced players, such as defenseman Matt Carle.